Taxi Driver. 1976 Columbia Pictures.
Starring: Robert De Niro, Cybill Shepherd, Jodie Foster, Peter Boyle, Harvey Keitel, Leonard Harris, Albert Brooks
Director: Martin Scorsese
Buy Taxi Driver from Amazon.
The story of Travis Bickle (De Niro), an honorably discharged Marine who leads a lonely and depressing life. He ends up settling in Manhattan, taking a job as a night time taxi driver thanks to his insomnia, working up to 14 hours a night, and spending time in seedy porn theaters after work...well, because he still can't sleep.
Travis becomes romantically interested in Betsy (Shepherd), who volunteers for New York Senator Charles Palantine (Harris), who is seeking the presidential nomination for his party, promising dramatic social change. Betsy agrees to go on a date with Travis after they meet for coffee, since he sympathized with her own loneliness. Unfortunately, Travis has no idea how to treat a woman, and ends up taking her to a Swedish sex ed film (Language of Love), which offends Betsy, and she leaves in a cab alone. Travis unsuccessfully tries to reconcile with her the next day.
Rejected and depressed, Bickle's thoughts turn violent, and his disgust for the petty crime (especially prostitution) he sees while working drives him into an intense physical training program. Travis also buys some illegal weaponry and practices his menacing speech while practicing with drawing his pistol from a homemade holster on his arm. Yes, "you talkin' to me?" The line that everyone knows. Travis also develops an intense interest in Senator Palantine's public appearances, somehow blaming the presidential hopeful for his own failure at winning Betsy's heart, and perhaps adding the senator to his list of targets. Bickle walks into a robbery in a run-down grocery store one night, and shoots the robber in the face. Instead of phoning the police, the shop owner tells Travis to free (he has no permit for his weapons), and starts beating the wounded criminal with a steel pole.
One night, Iris (Foster), who is a 12-year-old prostitute, gets in Bickle's cab, trying to escape her pimp, "Sport" (Keitel). Travis is stunned enough that he doesn't react, and Sport gives him a crumbled twenty dollar bill before hauling Iris away. Travis, feeling guilty about not helping her, seeks Iris out later, and while he does pay for her time, he instead tries talking her out of a life of prostitution. This becomes Bickle's new obsession.
Travis tries to kill Senator Palantine, but is scared off by Secret Service agents. Regrouping in his apartment, Travis goes back out and shoots Sport in the abdomen, before storming the brothel, killing a bouncer. Bickle murders Sport (who had tried to crawl after Travis) as well as the mafioso who had paid to spend time with Iris (yes, that's awkwardly phrased). After that, Travis tries to kill himself, but he's used up his ammunition, so he calmly waits on a sofa until the police show up, where he simply pretends to kill himself when the cops find him. A brief epilogue follows, where Travis is being hailed as a hero for saving Iris from a life of prostitution (including a congratulatory note from Senator Palantine). He downplays the positive attention and returns to work, giving Betsy a free ride, and she also makes note of Bickle's newfound media fame (the epilogue could be imagined; interpret it as you will).
Highly, highly, highly recommended movie.
Showing posts with label martin scorsese. Show all posts
Showing posts with label martin scorsese. Show all posts
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Raging Bull
Raging Bull. 1980 United Artists; now owned and released to DVD by MGM.
Starring: Robert De Niro. Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent, Nicholas Colasanto, Theresa Saldana, Mario Gallo
Director: Martin Scorsese
Amazon listings: Single DVD. Two-disc special edition.
Quite possibly Martin Scorsese's best movie, and a true "modern classic" film.
We open with the overweight and over-the-hill former boxer Jake La Motta (De Niro) practicing his stand-up comedy routine sometime in 1964 before flashing back to 1941, where he loses a fixed boxing match in Cleveland to Jimmy Reeves, which prompts the audience to riot. Despite that, Jake's career is on the rise, even if the local mob is putting pressure on him and his brother Joey (Pesci), who is responsible for organizing Jake's matches, in addition to serving as his sparring partner. At one point, Jake tells his brother that he doesn't have much faith in his own boxing skills.
Jake splits two fights with Sugar Ray Robinson, which are set two years apart, then wins his next six fights while grappling with his insecure feelings about his very young wife Vickie (Moriarty) possibly having feelings for other men, particularly a future opponent, Tony Janiro. Showing off his sexual jealousy, Jake beats Janiro in front of the local mob boss Tommy Como (Colosanto). While Joey is talking his brother up to the press, he sees Vickie socializing with one of his mob connections, Salvy Batts (Vincent). After Vickie tells him that she's giving up on Jake, Joey picks a fight with Batts, which gets him in trouble with Como. After settling that, Joey tells Jake that he'll have to take a dive against Billy Fox (which he does) in order to get a title shot. Despite being suspended briefly, Jake does win the title belt from Marcel Cerdan in Detroit.
Three years later, Jake's insecurity gets the better of him, and he suspects Joey slept with Vickie, and his wife sarcastically replies she had already slept with everyone in the neighborhood. The two brothers fight over it, and after a match with Laurent Dauthuille, Jake tries to make up with Joey, but Joey assumes that it's just Salvy impersonating his brother. This depresses Jake enough that he allows Robinson to land some hard punches on him as punishment in their third and final fight.
Jake retires a couple of years later, telling the press he has bought new property in Miami. Vickie files for divorce shortly thereafter, and Jake is arrested for providing underage girls (passed off as 21 year olds) to men. Instead of raising bribe money by selling his belt, Jake serves a prison sentence, sorrowfully questioning his misfortune. After his release, Jake returns to New York to meet with Joey again. The "I coulda been a contender scene" from On the Waterfront is referenced, as Jake complains that Joey should have been there for him, but he also realizes that he can eventually redeem himself for his past wrongs.
Highly, highly, highly recommended film.
Starring: Robert De Niro. Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent, Nicholas Colasanto, Theresa Saldana, Mario Gallo
Director: Martin Scorsese
Amazon listings: Single DVD. Two-disc special edition.
Quite possibly Martin Scorsese's best movie, and a true "modern classic" film.
We open with the overweight and over-the-hill former boxer Jake La Motta (De Niro) practicing his stand-up comedy routine sometime in 1964 before flashing back to 1941, where he loses a fixed boxing match in Cleveland to Jimmy Reeves, which prompts the audience to riot. Despite that, Jake's career is on the rise, even if the local mob is putting pressure on him and his brother Joey (Pesci), who is responsible for organizing Jake's matches, in addition to serving as his sparring partner. At one point, Jake tells his brother that he doesn't have much faith in his own boxing skills.
Jake splits two fights with Sugar Ray Robinson, which are set two years apart, then wins his next six fights while grappling with his insecure feelings about his very young wife Vickie (Moriarty) possibly having feelings for other men, particularly a future opponent, Tony Janiro. Showing off his sexual jealousy, Jake beats Janiro in front of the local mob boss Tommy Como (Colosanto). While Joey is talking his brother up to the press, he sees Vickie socializing with one of his mob connections, Salvy Batts (Vincent). After Vickie tells him that she's giving up on Jake, Joey picks a fight with Batts, which gets him in trouble with Como. After settling that, Joey tells Jake that he'll have to take a dive against Billy Fox (which he does) in order to get a title shot. Despite being suspended briefly, Jake does win the title belt from Marcel Cerdan in Detroit.
Three years later, Jake's insecurity gets the better of him, and he suspects Joey slept with Vickie, and his wife sarcastically replies she had already slept with everyone in the neighborhood. The two brothers fight over it, and after a match with Laurent Dauthuille, Jake tries to make up with Joey, but Joey assumes that it's just Salvy impersonating his brother. This depresses Jake enough that he allows Robinson to land some hard punches on him as punishment in their third and final fight.
Jake retires a couple of years later, telling the press he has bought new property in Miami. Vickie files for divorce shortly thereafter, and Jake is arrested for providing underage girls (passed off as 21 year olds) to men. Instead of raising bribe money by selling his belt, Jake serves a prison sentence, sorrowfully questioning his misfortune. After his release, Jake returns to New York to meet with Joey again. The "I coulda been a contender scene" from On the Waterfront is referenced, as Jake complains that Joey should have been there for him, but he also realizes that he can eventually redeem himself for his past wrongs.
Highly, highly, highly recommended film.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
The Last Temptation of Christ
The Last Temptation of Christ (Criterion #70). 1988 Universal Pictures.
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Harvey Keitel, Barbara Hershey, Harry Dean Stanton, David Bowie
Music: Peter Gabriel
Director: Martin Scorsese
Available at Amazon.
Based on the 1960 novel of the same name by Nikos Kazantzakis, the film version depicts Jesus Christ (Dafoe) as a person that was still free from sin, but still found himself plagued with doubt, and grappling with temptation. Both depicted Christ being tempted to imagine himself engaged in sexual activities, which understandably offended some Christians. Martin Scorsese also included a disclaimer to the beginning of the movie explaining that it was never intended to be an exact film adaptation of the events detailed in the Gospels.
The main point of the controversy surrounding the film's release in 1988 was the scene where Christ married Mary Magdalene (Hershey) instead of dying on the cross. A brief scene of the two making love angered many protestors. The scene simply represents Satan tempting Jesus with the life of a normal man, which he accepts until he realizes that he has abandoned his mission, and forsaken his destiny of being crucified.
Highly recommended.
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Harvey Keitel, Barbara Hershey, Harry Dean Stanton, David Bowie
Music: Peter Gabriel
Director: Martin Scorsese
Available at Amazon.
Based on the 1960 novel of the same name by Nikos Kazantzakis, the film version depicts Jesus Christ (Dafoe) as a person that was still free from sin, but still found himself plagued with doubt, and grappling with temptation. Both depicted Christ being tempted to imagine himself engaged in sexual activities, which understandably offended some Christians. Martin Scorsese also included a disclaimer to the beginning of the movie explaining that it was never intended to be an exact film adaptation of the events detailed in the Gospels.
The main point of the controversy surrounding the film's release in 1988 was the scene where Christ married Mary Magdalene (Hershey) instead of dying on the cross. A brief scene of the two making love angered many protestors. The scene simply represents Satan tempting Jesus with the life of a normal man, which he accepts until he realizes that he has abandoned his mission, and forsaken his destiny of being crucified.
Highly recommended.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
The King of Comedy
The King of Comedy. 1983 20th Century Fox.
Starring: Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis, Sandra Bernhard, Diahnne Abbott
Cameo appearances: Tony Randall, Victor Borge, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Ellen Foley, Mick Jones, Joe Strummer, Paul Simonon, Martin Scorsese, Lou Brown, Ed Herlihy
Director: Martin Scorsese
Available at Amazon.
Robert De Niro is Rupert Pupkin, an autograph hound and an aspiring stand-up comic whose obsessive ambition far outweighs his actual talent. A chance meeting with Jerry Langford (Lewis), a famous comedian and talk show host leads the obsessive Pupkin to believe that his big break has finally arrived, although repeated attempts to be booked on the talk show are rebuffed by Langford and his staff. The delusional Pupkin finds himself imagining that he and Langford are colleagues and friends. He then collaborates with a stalker named Masha (Bernhard), who is very familiar with Langford's routine around and away from the TV studio, and they both kidnap the comedian.
As ransom, Rupert demands that the kidnapping be kept a secret, and he be given the opening slot of that evening's program, with its emergency guest host, Tony Randall. The TV network, lawyers, and FBI agents agree, on the condition that Langford be released once the show goes off the air. Between the taping and telecast, Masha has a "dream date" with Langford, who is tied to a chair in her parents' home. Pupkin's appearance on the program is well received, and he confesses to the audience that he kidnapped Langford to break into show business, drawing laughs from the audience, who think this is just another joke. The movie ends with Rupert's release from prison, and his subsequent appearance on another national televised special, which may or may not be another one of his delusional fantasies.
Highly recommended.
Starring: Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis, Sandra Bernhard, Diahnne Abbott
Cameo appearances: Tony Randall, Victor Borge, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Ellen Foley, Mick Jones, Joe Strummer, Paul Simonon, Martin Scorsese, Lou Brown, Ed Herlihy
Director: Martin Scorsese
Available at Amazon.
Robert De Niro is Rupert Pupkin, an autograph hound and an aspiring stand-up comic whose obsessive ambition far outweighs his actual talent. A chance meeting with Jerry Langford (Lewis), a famous comedian and talk show host leads the obsessive Pupkin to believe that his big break has finally arrived, although repeated attempts to be booked on the talk show are rebuffed by Langford and his staff. The delusional Pupkin finds himself imagining that he and Langford are colleagues and friends. He then collaborates with a stalker named Masha (Bernhard), who is very familiar with Langford's routine around and away from the TV studio, and they both kidnap the comedian.
As ransom, Rupert demands that the kidnapping be kept a secret, and he be given the opening slot of that evening's program, with its emergency guest host, Tony Randall. The TV network, lawyers, and FBI agents agree, on the condition that Langford be released once the show goes off the air. Between the taping and telecast, Masha has a "dream date" with Langford, who is tied to a chair in her parents' home. Pupkin's appearance on the program is well received, and he confesses to the audience that he kidnapped Langford to break into show business, drawing laughs from the audience, who think this is just another joke. The movie ends with Rupert's release from prison, and his subsequent appearance on another national televised special, which may or may not be another one of his delusional fantasies.
Highly recommended.
Monday, January 26, 2009
The Last Waltz
The Last Waltz. 1978 United Artists.
The Band: Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, Robbie Robertson
The Guest Musicians: Paul Butterfield, Bobby Charles, Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, Dr. John, Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Ronnie Hawkins, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Pinetop Perkins, Carl Radle, The Staple Singers, Ringo Starr, Stephen Stills, Muddy Waters, Ronnie Wood, Neil Young
Director: Martin Scorsese
Buy The Last Waltz at Amazon. Then, you may want to invest in the four CD box set later on.
Without a doubt, this is the greatest concert movie I've ever seen.
Early in 1976, Richard Manuel was seriously injured in a boating accident, and his bandmate Robbie Robertson began thinking about taking the group off the concert circuit, existing strictly as studio performers from that point on. The rest of The Band didn't agree with this decision, the concert still went down on Thanksgiving, 1976, at the Winterland Ballroom, where they made its debut as a group (after backing Bob Dylan for a long while) in 1969. Originally, The Band wanted to perform on its own, but they decided to invite Dylan and Ronnie Hawkins, and the guest list ballooned up substantially. The only real confusion backstage was the insistance of Robertson that Neil Diamond be part of the concert. Dylan did not want his performance filmed, because he was afraid that it would detract from his own movie Renaldo and Clara. After receiving assurance that this project would be released well after his own movie, Dylan agreed to be filmed, but only while performing two songs, "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" and "Forever Young".
Click here for the music performed in the movie, and at the concert that might not have made it into the final cut.
Highly, highly recommended. Great music played at a historical concert with guest stars out the wazoo.
"This film should be played loud!"
The Band: Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, Robbie Robertson
The Guest Musicians: Paul Butterfield, Bobby Charles, Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, Dr. John, Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Ronnie Hawkins, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Pinetop Perkins, Carl Radle, The Staple Singers, Ringo Starr, Stephen Stills, Muddy Waters, Ronnie Wood, Neil Young
Director: Martin Scorsese
Buy The Last Waltz at Amazon. Then, you may want to invest in the four CD box set later on.
Without a doubt, this is the greatest concert movie I've ever seen.
Early in 1976, Richard Manuel was seriously injured in a boating accident, and his bandmate Robbie Robertson began thinking about taking the group off the concert circuit, existing strictly as studio performers from that point on. The rest of The Band didn't agree with this decision, the concert still went down on Thanksgiving, 1976, at the Winterland Ballroom, where they made its debut as a group (after backing Bob Dylan for a long while) in 1969. Originally, The Band wanted to perform on its own, but they decided to invite Dylan and Ronnie Hawkins, and the guest list ballooned up substantially. The only real confusion backstage was the insistance of Robertson that Neil Diamond be part of the concert. Dylan did not want his performance filmed, because he was afraid that it would detract from his own movie Renaldo and Clara. After receiving assurance that this project would be released well after his own movie, Dylan agreed to be filmed, but only while performing two songs, "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" and "Forever Young".
Click here for the music performed in the movie, and at the concert that might not have made it into the final cut.
Highly, highly recommended. Great music played at a historical concert with guest stars out the wazoo.
"This film should be played loud!"
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Mean Streets
Mean Streets. 1973 Warner Bros. Pictures.
Starring: Harvey Keitel, Robert De Niro, David Proval, Amy Robinson, Richard Romanus, Cesare Danova
Director: Martin Scorsese
Buy Mean Streets Special Edition from Amazon.
Charlie (Keitel) finds himself increasingly torn between his devout Catholicism and trying to move up in the local mafia run by his uncle Giovanni (Danova), where he collects protection money. It could be argued that Charlie is "too nice" to succeed at what he's doing. He is also feeling hampered by his feeling of responsibility towards his immature and destructive friend Johnny Boy (De Niro). Not only that, but Charlie is having an affair with Johnny Boy's cousin Teresa (Robinson), who sufferes from epilepsy, and who is also looked down upon by Charlie's uncle.
Johnny Boy is also deeply in gambling debt to a local shark named Michael (Romanus), who is not making it a secret that his patience is running short.
Charlie also wants more than anything to run a restaurant controlled by his uncle. When Giovanni offers him control, Charlie struggles with a difficult decision: his mafia ambitions, or his devotion to Teresa while keeping Johnny Boy out of trouble.
A great flick. Scorsese, De Niro and Keitel would reunite three years later to even greater acclaim when they made Taxi Driver. Highly recommended.
Starring: Harvey Keitel, Robert De Niro, David Proval, Amy Robinson, Richard Romanus, Cesare Danova
Director: Martin Scorsese
Buy Mean Streets Special Edition from Amazon.
Charlie (Keitel) finds himself increasingly torn between his devout Catholicism and trying to move up in the local mafia run by his uncle Giovanni (Danova), where he collects protection money. It could be argued that Charlie is "too nice" to succeed at what he's doing. He is also feeling hampered by his feeling of responsibility towards his immature and destructive friend Johnny Boy (De Niro). Not only that, but Charlie is having an affair with Johnny Boy's cousin Teresa (Robinson), who sufferes from epilepsy, and who is also looked down upon by Charlie's uncle.
Johnny Boy is also deeply in gambling debt to a local shark named Michael (Romanus), who is not making it a secret that his patience is running short.
Charlie also wants more than anything to run a restaurant controlled by his uncle. When Giovanni offers him control, Charlie struggles with a difficult decision: his mafia ambitions, or his devotion to Teresa while keeping Johnny Boy out of trouble.
A great flick. Scorsese, De Niro and Keitel would reunite three years later to even greater acclaim when they made Taxi Driver. Highly recommended.
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