Morgan vant Hof

Taxi Driver
Analysis of the opening title
sequence

Taxi Driver, directed by Martin Scorsese

Taxi driver was released in starring robert deniro is about A mentally unstable Vietnam
War veteran works as a night-time taxi driver in New York City where the perceived
decadence and sleaze feeds his urge for violent action, attempting to save a preadolescent
prostitute in the process.

The film taxi driver starts with just text however this text is bright red which could suggest
anger and aggression as re connotes blood and anger. Furthermore in short while of text
there is no sound which could imply there is a build up or something is waiting to break the
silence, creating tension. Scorsese then
cuts to what appears to be a low angle shot
of the steam or smoke rising up through
the road. A taxi which you know the film is
about brakes through this steam and turns
to the right (left of the screen). The slow
motion or overcranking creates a dramatic mood.
As the car exits the shot it unveils the
title; taxi driver. This text resemble the
neon lights of shops in the city. This
shows that, along with the steam from
the updrafts, that it is set in a suburban
area. To extend it is also night which
suggests that the driver is in some
awkward situation as he has to or wants to work through the night. As this happens music
is also introduced and it is tense music that creates suspense.

Next there is a sequence of names of producers and actors etc. they are all done in this.
The music still plays dramatically. The steam still manages to hide the background which
could create a claustrophobic mood. The text is enhanced also by the white steam and
therefor only appears on the steam.

After this it cuts to an extremely

close up shot of Robert De Niros
eyes. This could show that he is
some sort of distress this relates
to Noir as from the look his eyes
he looks like he is troubled from a past event. To add on the lighting is sinister and dark.
The red again suggests his aggression.
His eyes flicker around and there is no
camera angle change this suggests that he
is deep in thought and is concentrating very
hard. The music has also faded to romantic
jazz which suggests he is seeking a partner.

Next this shot, a nice shallow

depth of field allows you to
see the rain on the
windscreen creating a cosy
mood as the rain is on the
outside however it could also
create a sad and lonely
mood as rain is a technique used called pathetic
fallacy. The bright lights in the background show
that he is in a busy city.
This sort of establishing shot is distorted this
could be to show the mental unstability of the
the main character.
This shot shows bright colours moving around.
They are to kind of imitate drowsiness.

Here the blue and red lights

connote the police this in some
way could suggest that robert
deniro feels like he has a duty to
pursue like a police officer.

Throughout the opening scene the titles have appeared of senter to not steal the attention
of the of the viewers however they remain in a contemporary and interesting font.

Overall this opening really appeals to me