Method Acting In Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver
“Method acting is what all actors have always done whenever they have acted well” (Lee Strasberg on method acting, 1971, http://newyork.methodactingstrasberg.com/what-is-method-acting/ ). For an actor to act in a way that is true to life- they must find an emotional reality that coexists between themselves and the character they are portraying. Robert De Niro acts with a unique intensity that transcends throughout all of his performances on screen. He is an actor that believes in the style of Method Acting and has shown an unshakable commitment to his craft throughout his career. His performance in Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver demonstrates how significant an actor can be. De Niro perfectly embodies the character of Travis Bickle- a man who
is consumed by loneliness, sex, justice and the filth of mankind. He is at the centre of every scene of the film and delivers an uncompromising performance that is very hard to fault- but could somebody else have done what De Niro did?. Is the performance the most integral aspect of the film? what else contributes to this portrait of loneliness?
Robert De Niro is Travis Bickle. Bickle has just been honourably discharged from the Army after the conflict in Vietnam. He becomes a Taxi driver because he suffers from chronic insomnia and surfs the boroughs of New York city. He has a warped view of reality and is fixated with all the ‘filth’ that surrounds him. He is one of the most alienating characters in cinema history. Yet Bickle resonates with so many of the people who view the film even though he is so drastically different from your average man or woman. Robert De Niro crucially constructs a reliability for Travis Bickle that gradually draws audiences into his twisted world, which is crucial. The audience has to relate to Bickle’s loneliness and misfortunes otherwise the film simply does not work. You identify with his failed attempts to connect with women and you cannot bare to see the rejection and pain he suffers. De Niro had to embody Travis Bickle and he did it successfully because of his commitment to the role.
is consumed by loneliness, sex, justice and the filth of mankind. He is at the centre of every scene of the film and delivers an uncompromising performance that is very hard to fault- but could somebody else have done what De Niro did?. Is the performance the most integral aspect of the film? what else contributes to this portrait of loneliness?
Robert De Niro is Travis Bickle. Bickle has just been honourably discharged from the Army after the conflict in Vietnam. He becomes a Taxi driver because he suffers from chronic insomnia and surfs the boroughs of New York city. He has a warped view of reality and is fixated with all the ‘filth’ that surrounds him. He is one of the most alienating characters in cinema history. Yet Bickle resonates with so many of the people who view the film even though he is so drastically different from your average man or woman. Robert De Niro crucially constructs a reliability for Travis Bickle that gradually draws audiences into his twisted world, which is crucial. The audience has to relate to Bickle’s loneliness and misfortunes otherwise the film simply does not work. You identify with his failed attempts to connect with women and you cannot bare to see the rejection and pain he suffers. De Niro had to embody Travis Bickle and he did it successfully because of his commitment to the role.