2. Taxi Driver
This second collaboration between Robert De Niro and Scorsese yielded one of the most troubling and challenging films ever made but also one of the best. The way Scorsese uses the camera to hint at Travis Bickles subtle racism and lingering spectre of Vietnam on his psyche is revolutionary to the medium. Scorsese tells half of this character study with the dialogue and acting and the other half with his choice of camera placement. Think of the scene towards the beginning of the film when Travis is in a café and he slowly watches one of the black patrons; this is possibly the most racist shot in all of film but it puts you entirely in the frame of mind of the character, causing you to feel as Travis does. Many directors have tried to make their own versions of Raging Bull and Goodfellas but few have dared to try and make a film like Taxi Driver. Its so thoroughly realised and paced that nothing in it is wasted or unnecessary. It is quite possibly the greatest character study ever put to film. There will always be debate over the ending and the motives behind Bickles actions, and Taxi Driver only gets better and more rewarding with each viewing thanks to Scorseses master storytelling ability.