‘Taxi Driver’ With Bill Simmons, Bill Hader, and Sean Fennessey
February 9, 2021 · Taxi Driver (1976) · Crime · Drama · 1:41:19
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsTravis driving around explaining decrepit New York City ('all the animals come out at night'), Travis asking Betsy out, the Palantine cab ride, Scorsese as the crazy cab passenger, and Travis mastering his gun knife routine▶ 36:37
What's Aged the Best
Bill HaderAgreed on Jodie Foster's talent as both actor and director, and discussed how the film's cinematography (particularly the phone call scene camera movement) influenced his understanding of filmmaking▶ 1:04:40
Sean FennesseyJodie Foster's career - she became one of the most celebrated actors of her generation and an accomplished filmmaker▶ 1:04:22
Casting What-Ifs
Bill HaderAgreed there was 'a lot of that bullshit' regarding sexualized young actress roles▶ 1:13:33
Bill SimmonsJeff Bridges — Paul Schrader wrote Travis for Jeff Bridges; Dustin Hoffman was considered but thought it too crazy; Harvey Keitel wanted to play the pimp instead of campaign worker; Melanie Griffith possibly offered Iris role; Linda Blair possibility; Tatum O'Neill and Jodie Foster may have been offered each other's parts▶ 1:12:19
Sean FennesseyMelanie Griffith — Noted that Melanie Griffith's Night Moves part was similar to Iris - sexualized▶ 1:13:29
Joey Pants Award
Bill HaderVictor Argo — Discussed Vic Argo (bodega beating scene, appears in every Scorsese movie) and Doughboy (cab driver with arrow bathtub scene)▶ 1:16:17
Bill SimmonsLeonard Harris — Leonard Harris (who played Palatine) - only had two roles, making him 'that guy from taxi driver'▶ 1:15:50
Sean FennesseySteven Prince — Mentioned Steven Prince (gun salesman from American Boy documentary) and Diane Abbott (concession girl)▶ 1:17:06
Dion Waiters Award
Bill HaderAlbert Brooks — Agrees with Albert Brooks but also suggests Steve Prince deserves recognition for his drug dealer scenes▶ 1:19:43
Sean FennesseyAlbert Brooks — Supports Albert Brooks, praising his improvised performance and calling it the beginning of his movie persona▶ 1:19:30
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill HaderDick Smith created the fake mohawk with individually placed hairs on bald cap; explained makeup techniques for gunshot wounds including monofilament fishing line trick for neck wound; discussed movie production challenges with haircuts▶ 1:21:11
Bill SimmonsDe Niro made only $35,000 and honored his original deal despite rising profile; Jodie Foster's 19-year-old sister Connie was body double; Cybill Shepherd couldn't remember lines in coffee scene; De Niro's mohawk was fake and is displayed at Museum of Moving Image▶ 1:20:17
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill HaderBelieves everything is happening and not a dream - the sound effect represents Travis constantly watching his back and being freaked out, his paranoia didn't go away▶ 1:30:00
Bill SimmonsWhat was the strange sound effect over the rearview mirror at the end - was it the devil, his brain going haywire, or something following him? Also, what would Travis Bickle be like in 2021?▶ 1:31:01
Sean FennesseyHow much of the movie is in Travis's head versus reality - is the ending or large parts a dream sequence or fantasy? (Though creators say it's not)▶ 1:29:35
Who Won the Movie
Bill HaderJodie Foster — Jodie Foster, for her incredible performance at age 12 and how she overcame the John Hinckley situation to have an amazing career▶ 1:38:58
Bill SimmonsMartin Scorsese — Martin Scorsese, because after this movie anything seemed possible with him and it became a go-to movie for future generations of filmmakers▶ 1:39:44
Sean FennesseyRobert De Niro — Robert De Niro, because the 'Are you talking to me?' line became the most quoted and remembered thing from the movie in pop culture▶ 1:37:00
Movies Referenced (35)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raging Bull (1980) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Bill Hader | ▶ 15:03 |
| Mean Streets (1973) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Bill Hader | ▶ 6:19 |
| The Irishman (2019) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Hader, Bill Simmons | ▶ 26:58 |
| All the President's Men (1976) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 30:13 |
| Annie Hall (1977) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Bill Hader | ▶ 6:30 |
| Argo (2012) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Hader, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:16:17 |
| Fargo (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 35:49 |
| King Kong (2005) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:35:01 |
| Midnight Run (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Hader, Bill Simmons | ▶ 15:12 |
| The Sting (1973) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Hader | ▶ 1:31:22 |
| Weekend at Bernie's (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Hader | ▶ 20:11 |
| 365 Days (2020) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 23:16 |
Directors Referenced (6)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Scorsese | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 41 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Bill Hader | Taxi Driver, Killers of the Flower Moon, Mean Streets | ▶ 2:22 |
| Peter Bogdanovich | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | The Last Picture Show | ▶ 23:50 |
| Woody Allen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Bill Hader | Annie Hall | ▶ 6:30 |
| John Colorado | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Hancock | ▶ 1:12:09 |
| Kevin Costner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Hader | Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | ▶ 32:31 |
| Spike Lee | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Hader | Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, She's Gotta Have It | ▶ 7:02 |
Actors Referenced (38)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert De Niro | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 45 | Bill Simmons, Bill Hader, Sean Fennessey | Cape Fear, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver | ▶ 2:22 |
| Jodie Foster | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 15 | Bill Hader, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | The Silence of the Lambs, Taxi Driver | ▶ 8:10 |
| Harvey Keitel | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Hader, Bill Simmons | Reservoir Dogs, The Grand Budapest Hotel | ▶ 8:10 |
| Hannah Bickle | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Bill Hader | ▶ 4:31 | |
| Albert Brooks | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Broadcast News | ▶ 1:12:50 |
| Dustin Hoffman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Hader, Bill Simmons | Rain Man, Tootsie, Midnight Cowboy | ▶ 58:09 |
| Gene Siskel | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Bill Hader | ▶ 34:15 | |
| Joe Spinell | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Taxi Driver, Rocky | ▶ 1:15:39 |
| Joe Spinelli | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Picnic at Hanging Rock | ▶ 54:13 |
| Peter Boyle | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Hader, Bill Simmons | Taxi Driver | ▶ 56:42 |
| Charles Grodin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Hader, Sean Fennessey | Midnight Run | ▶ 15:22 |
| Jack Haley | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | The Wizard of Oz | ▶ 1:18:05 |
Writers Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Schrader | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Hader, Bill Simmons | First Reformed | ▶ 3:29 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 34:10 | |
| Alec Berg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Hader | ▶ 14:17 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Chapman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Hader, Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Raging Bull, The Fugitive | ▶ 7:17 |