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August 1999

Taxi Driver: Special Edition
Reviewed by Doug Schneider
DVD Format

Overall Enjoyment: ****1/2
Picture Quality: ****
Sound Quality: **1/2
Packaged Extras: ****

Starring Robert DeNiro, Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel, Cybal Shepard

Directed by Martin Scorsese

Theatrical Release: 1976
DVD Release: 1999
Dolby Digital Surround 5.1
Widescreen


Asked to name two of the most important urban crime dramas of the '70s and chances are that many will say Mean Streets and Taxi Driver. Both films were directed by Martin Scorsese, one of the finest and most influential American filmmakers and whose work over the last three decades has helped redefine this genre of gritty movies.

Taxi Driver stars Robert DeNiro as Travis Bickle, a dysfunctional Vietnam War veteran whose solitary life is surrounded by violence and pornography. His attempts at socializing fail, and when he takes a beautiful woman, played by Cybal Shepard, on a date, she immediately recoils from him when he takes her to a porno theater. After that mishap he shifts focus to a twelve-year-old prostitute, played by Jodie Foster, whom he befriends, attempts to understand and eventually tries to save. His paranoia and anger increase, and soon his life spirals out of control, resulting in a rage of violence.

Many parts of Taxi Driver have been seen so many times that you would think that after almost a quarter century (has it really been that long?) the movie would be boring and would surely lose its impact; DeNiro with his Mohawk haircut, his famous "Are you talking to me?" line, and Jodie Foster in red high heels are burned into many minds. Still, Taxi Driver seems as fresh as ever, and Scorsese's stunning direction, with his mix of drama and explosive violence, is as powerful as ever.

The video transfer of this DVD is gorgeous. The print of the film shows very few defects, and the colors are superbly rendered. Contrasts and the level of picture detail are very good.  The sound, though acceptable, is not to the same standard as the picture quality. In truth, it is probably very faithful to the original film, but since the time of Taxi Driver's release, sound in films has gotten much better. The stereo mix here sounds compressed, occasionally distorted, and a bit "honky" at times (cup your hands around your mouth and speak for an example of what is meant by this). Overall, it's fine; dialogue is easily discernible but nothing to write home about.

The packaged extras more than make up any flaws. Storyboards, the screenplay, portraits, and commentary from Scorsese, DeNiro, and Foster are just some of what's included. For fans of the film, the extras are a smorgasbord of information and one of the best DVD packages put together this year. The creators did their homework here and took great care in producing a exceptional product in this Special Edition version.

What's unfortunate about this release is that it arrives somewhat late for some people. Columbia/TriStar has already released a standard version of Taxi Driver and undoubtedly many people went and bought it when it first came out. Attempting to resell that version won't be that easy because this one is so much better and costs nothing more. Still, this movie deserved the special-edition treatment from the beginning. I guess what redeems this mistake is that the Special Edition is very favorably priced and its quality can be summed up in one word -- outstanding. Taxi Driver is a classic film well worth owning, and the Special Edition version is the one to get -- even if you have the first release.


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