The Tribeca Film Festival will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Martin Scorsese’s powerful psychological thriller Taxi Driver with a special screening April 21 at the Beacon Theater. Robert De Niro, Scorsese, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, and screenwriter Paul Schrader will participate in a special conversation following the screening. The 1976 film, nominated for four Academy Awards, including for De Niro and Scorsese, has become a classic.
In his 1976 review, critic Roger Ebert wrote: “Taxi Driver” shouldn’t be taken as a New York film; it’s not about a city but about the weathers of a man’s soul, and out of all New York he selects just those elements that feed and reinforce his obsessions. The man is Travis Bickle, ex-Marine, veteran of Vietnam, composer of dutiful anniversary notes to his parents, taxi driver, killer. The movie rarely strays very far from the personal, highly subjective way in which he sees the city and lets it wound him.”
Scorsese – ‘Taxi Driver’ Filmed in Very Different NYC
Said Scorsese in the TFF press release: “It’s odd to think that four decades have passed since we shot Taxi Driver on the streets of a very different New York City. It was made in a surge of energy, starting with Paul’s one-of-a-kind script, and I was working with an extraordinary group of artistic collaborators as anyone could ever hope for—Jodie, who was 13 years old at the time, and Bob gave the picture something precious, dangerous, and altogether remarkable.”
He added, “I’m honored to take part in the celebration of the film’s 40th anniversary at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival.”
Robert De Niro – Equally Proud of ‘Taxi Driver’ Today
De Niro wrote that, “It’s a great honor for TFF to revisit Taxi Driver. I’m very proud to have worked on this film with Marty, Jodie, Harvey, Cybill, Paul, Michael and Julia, as well as the extraordinary cast and crew. I remain equally proud today.”
Everyone much knows the story: De Diro plays Travis Bickle, an alienated and tightly wound loner, who drives a taxi on the night shift in Manhattan. He falls for Betsy (Shepherd), campaign aide for presidential candidate Palentine (Leonard Harris). After she rebuffs him, his behavior becomes increasingly erratic and violent.
An encounter with a 12-year-old prostitute, Iris (Jodie Foster), and her pimp, Sport (Harvey Keitel), convinces Travis that the world is a rotten place. As his frustration mounts, he assembles a cache of guns and becomes an expert at using them. The theme and story seems as relevant and contemporary today as when the film was made four decades ago.
Attend the Tribeca Film Festival
The highlight of the Tribeca Film Festival has been these screenings and look back at iconic films featuring conversations and Q&A’s with the filmmakers. Previous years honored “The King of Comedy,” “Goodfellas” and “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”
Tickets will be available beginning March 24 at 10am EST by visiting beacontheatre.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 866-858-0008. The Tribeca Film Festival will take place April 13-24.
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