Taxi Driver

Taxi Driver / Easy Rider
$24.95
Why these two films are packaged together, I'm not really sure. I do know that these are two of the great films that define fine filmmaking, and that will forever stand the test of time.But why look a gift horse in the mouth, right? A package of classics that should be scooped up while the price is still right.

Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Jody Foster and Harvey Keitel show us early on their special gifts to cinema, along with screenwriter Paul Schrader.Taxi Driver is the tale of Travis Bickle(De Niro), a lonely man,who drives a cab through the nighttime streets of New York. Although he is all but invisible to those around him, he witnesses all the disturbing events going on in the city.

Travis is not just lonely. He is obsessive and psychotic, and we slowly sees these traits arise in him through the film.
First he becomes obsessed with the beautiful Betsy(Cybill Shepherd) a campaign worker for a presidential hopeful, only to be rejected by her, and Travis goes after the candidate. He then turns his attentions to the 12 year old Iris(Foster), a prostitute working for a pimp named Sport (Keitel). He tries desperately to save her from the streets and herself and when she doesn't respond he becomes extremely violent.

Throughout the story we see Travis' descent into his psychotic behavior. De Niro really is superb at this. We first see it in his eyes,at one point he even talks to another cab driver(Peter Boyle) about the feelings he has. He then purchases weapons, and prepares for battle like a warrior.
"You talkin to me?"...

"Easy Rider" is more than just a great film. It's an experience! Dennis Hopper who directed and co-wrote(with Peter Fonda and Terry Southern)preserved for us on film this time in history that has had a lasting cultural effect. His unique style of directing lets the viewer not just watch but experience the story from the free wheeling beginning, to the drug trips(don't worry, you won't have any flashbacks), to the devastating end.

The story takes place in the late 60's, during a time of radical cultural changes. Fonda and Hopper are motorcyclists, "long hairs", who having just scored big in the sale of drugs,are searching to be free from the everyday hang-ups of life. They are headed from Los Angeles to New Orleans, trying to make it to Mardi-Gras.Along the way they are met with the varied attitudes and life styles of those they encounter. Some just accept them for who they are, others openly show their hostility at what is different and unknown.

They are also joined by (in his breakthrough performance) the inimitable Jack Nicholson, who made me smile from the first frame he was in, all the way through. Jack plays an alcoholic lawyer who's looking for a little change in his life and joins the boys on their road trip.

So "trip" down memory lane, or experience this important film for the first time, to one of the greatest soundtracks put to film. The music includes Steppenwolf, The Birds, The Band, and The Jimmi Hendrix Experience.

The film was nominated for Best Screenplay(1969), Fonda, Hopper and Nicholson show us way back then why they were all destined to become the stars they are today. Also look for Karen Black as a New Orleans prostitute. It was brilliantly filmed and this widescreen edition brings every inch of scenery to you. It's a film well worth viewing and owning.

"They only wanted to be free..."

De Niro, Nicholson,Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper take to the road...enjoy the ride...Laurie

Taxi (Full Screen Edition)
$14.98
vewry funny movie , the DVD arrived as they discribed it to be ...was in great shape

Taxi Driver
$27.95
This film stunned audiences when it came out in theatres, with it's dark subject matter, stark realism, and graphic use of violence. Not to mention a powerful and compelling performance from De Niro.

Mean Streets (Special Edition)
$14.98
Mean Streets (1973) is an ambitious project, for which a lot of
filming talent, energy and acting talent was expended. To a certain
degree, it comes up short in architectural aspects (the story) and
is somewhat unfocused in terms of what it's about.

There's several story lines running concurrently: a story about the
mob (revolving around Harvey Keitel's character and his uncle, with
a night club, loan sharking, a collector of illegal debts), a story
of a total fool, (a character played by De Niro), and also that of
a nostalgic recounting of young men exploring the limits of night
entertainment, bearing in mind cultural, social and religious
limitations. Brawls, drinking, profanity, confrontations occur.

The entertainment value as well as the time expended (2 hours) is
questionable, in terms of exposing a compulsive gambler, who is
irrational, heavily indebted, and wreckless, defined as a mook.

Further, over 2/3 of the soundtrack is with the Supremes, from the
Beatlemania era, thereby dating the move. The music works and
helps enhance it's American-ism and counter its ethnocentrism.

Conversely, the mixture of reminescing about one's youth, pals,
nightclubs, and antics in between a backdrop of the mob and
nightlife is valid for many.

The film is deep with Italian American aspects, such as the San
Gennaro parade in Manhattan in the 2nd week of September,
neighborhood clubs, restaurants, pool halls and venues that the
locals cherish, characterizing individuals who don't adhere to the
straight-and-narrow. It shows some controversial moments as the
ethnic Italians judge, and filter anything and everything that is
not from their close-knit neighbood, such as people and business
relations, with their own value system.

The presentation is wide-screen, with subtitles, with a very good
filming quality, considering the numerous night and indoors scenes.

The film suggests a habit of the street being the rightplace to
acquire cheap commodities, either smuggled or obtained through
some other means, such as tobacco, narco substances, etc.

Loan sharking, the misery of debtors and the actions of the
collectors of illegal debts, culminating in shootings, is laid out
in plain view. Keitel's character, and others, are well aware of
social etiquette, and their own religious values when face-to-face
with fellow human beings, which is a challenging paradox to resolve
in face of violence and daily stuggles.

At no time does the budget or lack thereof, become noticeable over
duration of the work.