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We get a commentary track from writer Paul Schrader
along with a second audio commentary track by professor
Robert Kolker (both are subtitled).Schrader's commentary
track is the better of the two simply because he's able
to provide an insider's view on the film from conception
to post-production. He discusses changes that occurred in
the script including alterations the studio insisted on
before they would approve the production. While there are
some plenty of quiet moments (here's where combining the
best of Kolker's comments would have worked well), it's
well worth a listen. ***
Disc two has the bulk of the supplements including
a new interview with Scorsese. He's quite frank about the
film's strengths and weaknesses and discusses how the film
wouldn't exist without Schrader's excellent screenplay which
managed to fit neatly into his worldview as a film director
at the time. ***
"Producing 'Taxi Driver'" has producer Michael Phillips
in center stage. He discusses the difficult time they had
finding financing for the film and covers how he became
involved in the project. ***
"God's Lonely Man" features interviews with Paul Schrader
discussing the personal issues that inspired him to write
the film, Professor Robert Kolker discussing the symbolism
and meaning of the film alternating with clips from the
film. ***
"Influence and Appreciation" is a tribute to the director
from Martin Scorsese from his peers and folks who worked
on the film. Robert De Niro appears in this segment discussing
his relationship with Scorsese on the film and what attracted
him to the project. ***
"Taxi Driver Stories" runs under ½ hour and focuses
on true tales by taxi drivers that worked the same area
as Travis during the 70's. Ed Koch also appears discussing
what the area was like when he first took office and the
role NYC cabbies play in the city almost as cultural ambassadors.
***
"Making Taxi Driver" is the original 70 minute documentary
that appeared on the previous incarnation of the movie.
It's been ported over and has interviews of the stars (including
the late Peter Boyle) that were shot for the prior edition.
Directed by Laurent Bouzereau (now a film producer), it's
a marvelous documentary on the making of the film. ***
Both "Travis' New York" and "Travis New York Locations"
are pretty self explanatory from their titles. The former
has Director of Photography Michael Chapman discuss 70's
New York and how the film captured the city during a time
of transition. Ed Koch appears again discussing what Times
Square and other areas were like prior to his tenure as
Mayor and how the film captures the seedy vibe that was
dominant at the time. ***
Finally we get some storyboard to film comparisons
and a number of still galleries that use Bernard Herrmann's
evocative score as background music. We get a gallery of
previews that one has come to expect with any new release.
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