Directed by Martin Scorsese, The Watch movie ranks among the most famous and sacred pieces of American cinema, regardless of era or director. It stars Robert De Niro as the titular Travis BickleOther names within the cast included Harvey Keitel and Jodie Foster – early parts for both performers, with the latter going down as a popular role for a child actor.


Although their efforts are impressive and help in enhancing the quality taxi driver (1976) Overall, the aforementioned hero, eponymous in Travis, hails from among the most iconic characters the medium has ever seen. A Vietnam War veteran, he suffers from insomnia and combats his lack of sleep by walking around New York City. To capitalize on his efforts, he becomes a taxi driver, taking people to their exact destination while finding nowhere to go himself.

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Taxi driver office numbers and their impact

Columbia Pictures

Upon its initial launch, taxi driver It received wide acclaim from critics and audiences alike. In addition, it made waves at the worldwide box office, amassing $28.6 million from a budget of $1.9 million. And at the 49th Academy Awards, taxi driver It received four nominations: Best Picture, Best Score, Best Actor (De Niro), and Best Supporting Actress (Foster).

These are impressive numbers, but its legacy in today’s scene has somehow reached higher levels for movie name value in general. Selected in 1994 by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry, it is consistently cited among the greatest films ever made, regardless of era, director, or region.

It has influenced filmmakers the world over every day since its release in the mid-1970s, and much of its formidable legacy can be traced back to the charisma of Travis Bickle. And no, it’s not just because of the famous “Are you talking to me?” Travis quote, but also because of its interesting developmental arc. The deterioration of his mental state is truly a sight to behold, and Scorsese takes audiences for a ride in the backseat of Travis’ cab, perfectly in line with the rearview mirror as his only friends in town.

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Travis Bickle’s Descent into Insanity

De Niro in Taxi Driver
Columbia Pictures

Travis is in an unstable mental state. He drinks heavily while getting very little sleep and, as an ex-Marine, struggles to adjust to the real world and adjust to his people. A reflection on the mental turmoil suffered by Vietnam War veterans, he loses this character from the first frame of the film, and spends its plot devising a purpose for his life. A destination, if desired, that he can drive to in his taxi and finally get some sleep.

On the one hand, on the surface, Travis seems like an ordinary guy. His attire is generally casual, consisting of a checkered shirt with jeans. But on the other end of the mind spectrum, he keeps a diary and regularly visits adult video theaters. Not exactly normal behavior for a man his age. He is obsessed with a woman named Betsy, whom he takes to the theater on a date. Repelled, Betsy storms off, which angers Travis. He goes to her workplace—a campaign office for Senator Charles Palatine, who is running for president—and barbs at her before forcing her to leave.

This event then leads to Travis’ grand plan of assassination. But once Travis creates a plot of ultimate proportions, he changes his hairdo to a mohawk. He invests in a pair of sunglasses and wears a military combat jacket. He carries weapons, guns and a knife under his clothes. And this physical transformation is reflected in the nadir of his mental state as he develops an absurd idea in his head that he can become a hero to New York City by assassinating Senator Palatine. He discovers that this is his goal, and even takes his taxi to the event.

In the lead-up to Judgment Day, he meets a twelve-year-old prostitute named Iris. He tries to convince her to stop selling her body, and after failing to follow through on an attempt on his life, Travis changes his sights to Iris’ pimp, Sport. He kills him with two guards in his brothel, and rather than arrest him, Travis is glorified for his actions. The city is proud of him as a hero, and his purpose is finally discovered. His descent into madness leads him to the destination he so desperately desired, ultimately identifying Travis Bickle and his experience with the human condition.

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