50 Reasons Why Taxi Driver Might Just Be The Greatest Film Of All Time

1.) Opening Credits Sequence
In the very first shot a taxi appears from out of the street smoke and then fades again almost as if we just imagined its appearance. Names appear across the smoke filled screen. A pair of fatigued eyes that were born for cinema cautiously dart back and forth with an anxious expression. We then assume the position of the taxi driver driving through a bleak and uncompromising rain. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWTv8toR3Ug We are immediately drawn into this dark, surreal world where the line between fantasy and reality will become increasingly blurred as we delve deeper into the mind of a severely disturbed individual. A feeling of loneliness already emanates from the screen, of a man feeling trapped, isolated, insecure. We are desperate to know more about him. Helping to absorb us into this world is the evocative and mesmerising Bernard Herrmann score.2.) Bernard Hermann's Score
There are two deeply profound pieces of music linked together in Taxi Driver. One is a dreamy, romantic jazz fuelled number which carries connotations of warmth and satisfaction. The other part of this score is a threatening and strikingly operatic piece of music with a deep undercurrent of angst and sadness that mirrors the growing rage waiting to be released inside Travis. Overall the contrast of the piece brilliantly shows the schizophrenic nature of Travis's personality who is capable of being both charming, sweet and also utterly ruthless and violent. Just listening to the score tells a sort of story in itself and is just as important to the film's success as Paul Schrader's script, Scorsese's direction and De Niro's central performance. It proved to be Hermann's last film, and what a way for one of the greats to go out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx4aK-YsPeU3.) A Brilliant War Movie!

4.) Funny Moment # 1
No matter how bleak or hard hitting most Scorsese films have one or two moments that are truly hilarious. I think the funniest scene in Taxi Driver is when Peter Boyle's cabbie has spent a good minute and a half philosophising about his job and life in general and then Travis just responds with:"I think that's about the dumbest thing I've ever heard." SUCK ON THIS!Officially the coolest line anyone has ever delivered before mowing down a lousy pimp.
"Growing up, Laurent was such an ardent fan of wrestling superstar Stone Cold Steve Austin that he actually attempted to send the Texas Rattlesnake a letter demanding that he defeat arch-nemesis The Rock at Wrestlemania 15. Oh hell yeah, it was all still very real to him back then dammit. As an aspiring writer of multiple genres and platforms, he has also recently co-authored a non-fiction movie e-book entitled 'Egos, Cliches, Flops and Lost Films: Examining the powerful madness of the movies' which is written in a similarly light hearted and informative style to his wrestling articles and which can be browsed and purchased by following the link below - http://www.amazon.com/Egos-Cliches-Flops-Films-ebook/dp/B0088YNTBC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339093928&sr=8-1"
See more from Laurent