Thoughts on Taxi Driver at 50: How Many Travis Bickles Roam The Earth?

I began Memorial Day weekend by attending a 50th anniversary screening of Taxi Driver at the Brattle Theatre.

The screening was sold out with many in attendance were born in this century. Several Gen Zers came by and asked what the lineup was for and when Taxi Driver was uttered, they understood. They may not have seen the film, but they know Robert DeNiro and 'You talkin' to me?'. They also understand the significance of Martin Scorsese. 

I have seen Taxi Driver on TV on a number of occasions and, more recently, have delved into the perspective of YouTube movie reactors such as CineBinge and Popcorn in Bed. But until tonight, I had never viewed it on the big screen.

Based on the reactions I heard following the screening, people were most impressed by the musical score composed by Bernard Herrmann. It proved to be his epitaph as he died on Christmas Eve, 1975 only hours after completing his final work. He would be posthumously nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score.

For me what truly resonated was Travis Bickle's ruminations on loneliness and trying to fit into the world.

Loneliness has followed me my whole life. Everywhere. In bars, in cars, sidewalks, stores, everywhere. There's no escape. I'm God's lonely man.

All my life needed was a sense of someplace to go. I don't believe that one should devote his life to morbid self-attention. I believe that someone should become a person like other people.

Travis Bickle did think he was becoming a person like other people in his pursuit of Betsy, the beautiful presidential campaign worker played by Cybil Shepherd. He thought he was being like other people when he took Betsy to a movie yet could not fathom why she would object be taken to an adult movie theatre in Times Square.

When Betsy rejects Travis' overtures, he plans to assassinate Charles Palantine, the presidential candidate for whom she works as an act of revenge. Of course, his violent impulses are ultimately turned towards good when he rescues Iris, a child prostitute played by Jodie Foster. 

Bickle is wounded and gets commendation for his actions effectively becoming a person like other people. Yet, at the same time, one cannot help if he is living vicariously and is idealizing what he has become as when Betsy takes a ride in Travis' cab and praises him for saving Iris. 

In the 50 years since Taxi Driver was released, how many Travis Bickles have roamed the Earth to escape loneliness in pursuit of trying to be like other people?

Unfortunately, far too many. The assassination of John Lennon, the attempted assassination of President Reagan and numerous mass shooters. 

Of course, not all Travis Bickles end up becoming killers much less wanting to act out that desire. But those Travis Bickles aren't sure how to escape loneliness to become a person like other people and many never will.