Martin Scorsese’s 1976 masterpiece Taxi Driver has been restored in 4K Ultra HD, and the results are stunning. The film, which stars Robert De Niro in one of his most iconic roles, has been meticulously remastered from the original 35mm camera negatives, resulting in a sharper, clearer, and more vibrant image than ever before.
Paul Schrader’s gritty screenplay depicts the ever-deepening alienation of Vietnam Veteran Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro in a tour-de-force performance), a psychotic cab driver who obsessively cruises the mean streets of Manhattan. Travis’ now-famous “You talkin’ to me?” improv is one more sign of his madness. It is a moment when he completely loses touch with reality and imagines that he is conversing with a reflection of himself in the mirror.
Martin Scorsese and Paul Schrader’s 1976 film Taxi Driver is a film noir version of John Ford’s late Western The Searchers (1956), aligning Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) with a mythology of American heroism while exposing that myth’s obsessively violent underpinnings. Like Ethan Edwards (John Wayne) in The Searchers, Travis is a loner with a troubled past. Both men are haunted by their experiences in war, and both are driven by a sense of vengeance. Ethan sets out to rescue his niece Debbie, who has been kidnapped by Comanches. Travis sets out to rescue Iris (Jodie Foster), a teenage prostitute, from her pimp (Harvey Keitel).
However, Travis’ mission to save Iris is not simply a heroic quest. It is also a descent into madness. Travis is increasingly alienated from the world around him, and his obsession with Iris leads him to violence. He becomes a vigilante. Scorsese uses a variety of cinematic techniques to convey Travis’ madness and the dark side of the American dream. The film’s use of Godardian jump cuts and ellipses, expressive camera moves and angles, and garish colors creates a sense of disorientation and unease. Bernard Herrmann’s eerie final score, finished the day he died, adds to the film’s sense of doom.
The 4K restoration of Taxi Driver is particularly noticeable in the film’s many nighttime scenes. The neon lights of New York City at night are rendered with incredible detail and realism, and the contrast between the bright lights and dark shadows is even more striking in 4K. In addition, the film’s grain structure has been preserved, giving the image a natural and filmic look.
The sound mix for the 4K restoration of Taxi Driver has also been upgraded, with Dolby Atmos support for a more immersive listening experience. The film’s score by Bernard Herrmann sounds better than ever, and the sound effects are more realistic and impactful.
In addition to the improved image and sound quality, the 4K release of Taxi Driver also includes a number of bonus features, including:
- A new 4K digital transfer, supervised by Martin Scorsese and cinematographer Michael Ballhaus
- Dolby Atmos audio track
- New audio commentary by Martin Scorsese
- New interviews with Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Martin Scorsese, and other cast and crew members
- Archival interviews, featurettes, and more
Taxi Driver is a powerful and disturbing film that exposes the dark side of the American dream. It is a film that is still relevant today, as we continue to grapple with issues of violence and alienation. The 4K restoration of Taxi Driver is a must-see for fans of the film and cinema in general. It is a chance to see this classic film in a way that it has never been seen before.
Watch now in 4K: https://amzn.to/3RUzOZb
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