One of my all time favourites, a masterpiece by Scorsese (the casting is on the money as always in his movies, including soundtrack and the gritty backdrop, but we get a sense of this is the earlier Mean Streets). De Niro plays Travis so heartbreakingly authentic, and Foster is outstanding. Apparently the shoot out scene at the end had such an unusual camera angle it's noted in cinematic history!!
This is one of those films - like certain classic books - that I feel like I've seen, and yet never have! I just watched Klute so I think I'll continue and make an NYC theme for myself...
Cool piece, Luke. Not just for your take on the movie, which you really bring to the page so intelligently, but for the sense of New York: I was more or less there as I read, man. Really cool.
I think I’m correct in saying I attended the European or British premiere of this truly great movie at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 1976 or ‘77. As a 16 year old I was completely astounded by the power of this movie making. The visceral punch on the guts when we first see Travis with his head shaven, the raw dialogue, the shock of realising that a 12 year old was a hooker. So many vivid, disturbing and unforgettable images.
A life long love of Scorcese and De Niro followed. How could it not?
Great post and great detail with “Tom and Jerry refrigerator.” And yes—the ending is no dream—it’s dreamlike.
We love Paul Schrader and recently did Raging Bull and First Reformed on the Fifteen Minute Film Fanatics podcast— Auto Focus comes out in two weeks—would love to hear what you think of them.
I may well do The Comfort of Strangers (1990) at some point. A flawed film, altho' it has something about it. And definitely one to add to the watch list. Not sure he gets the middle class English couple right? The way they speak? Or maybe he does... and Venice is squandered, too... but then it's only hinted at in the book.
I watched it recently once again after many years and it is indeed a masterpiece. Jodie Foster is great and of course de Niro rocks.
Isn't it just? One of the greatest films of the '70s. Fabulous performance from Cybill, too. Perfect casting.
One of my all time favourites, a masterpiece by Scorsese (the casting is on the money as always in his movies, including soundtrack and the gritty backdrop, but we get a sense of this is the earlier Mean Streets). De Niro plays Travis so heartbreakingly authentic, and Foster is outstanding. Apparently the shoot out scene at the end had such an unusual camera angle it's noted in cinematic history!!
This is one of those films - like certain classic books - that I feel like I've seen, and yet never have! I just watched Klute so I think I'll continue and make an NYC theme for myself...
Cool piece, Luke. Not just for your take on the movie, which you really bring to the page so intelligently, but for the sense of New York: I was more or less there as I read, man. Really cool.
Too kind. And an Englishman's take on NYC!
I think I’m correct in saying I attended the European or British premiere of this truly great movie at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 1976 or ‘77. As a 16 year old I was completely astounded by the power of this movie making. The visceral punch on the guts when we first see Travis with his head shaven, the raw dialogue, the shock of realising that a 12 year old was a hooker. So many vivid, disturbing and unforgettable images.
A life long love of Scorcese and De Niro followed. How could it not?
Great post and great detail with “Tom and Jerry refrigerator.” And yes—the ending is no dream—it’s dreamlike.
We love Paul Schrader and recently did Raging Bull and First Reformed on the Fifteen Minute Film Fanatics podcast— Auto Focus comes out in two weeks—would love to hear what you think of them.
Thanks. I'm obsessed with the Tom and Jerry 'fridge. It was always empty, apart from a chicken and a bottle of milk. And the maid's legs. And the mop.
"The chicken and the bottle of milk": excellent. Another Paul Schrader one we did recently: Bringing Out the Dead: https://newbooksnetwork.com/bringing-out-the-dead
Good to find another Schrader fan out there. The only one of his I've seen that I found lacking was The Comfort of Strangers. Keep the columns coming!
I may well do The Comfort of Strangers (1990) at some point. A flawed film, altho' it has something about it. And definitely one to add to the watch list. Not sure he gets the middle class English couple right? The way they speak? Or maybe he does... and Venice is squandered, too... but then it's only hinted at in the book.