Anyone else get a 'Taxi Driver' vibe from this movie? It's not on the same level at all, but it definitely had some moments that were reminiscent of that film. Like Harlan playing with guns in his apartment, talking to himself into the mirror, writing letters to parents he apparently doesn't see anymore, odd relationship with an underage girl, etc.
- Don't tease me about my hobbies, I don't tease you about being an assh*le
Yeah, the times when Harlan was writing Joe and when he was doing all the stuff in the mirror. I think this were clearly allusions to Taxi Driver.
shareI think the mirror stuff was a very tastefull homage of Taxi Driver. Nice scene. My favorite scene is the small Swing scene though...in all it's simplicity
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I totally agree. Parts where Norton talks in the mirror definately remineded me of Bickle in Taxi Driver. Good point about the writing letters too.
"The things you own end up owning you."
Definetly reminded me a bit of Taxi Driver...writing letters, talking to himself while staring at the mirror holding the guns, his mental health, practicing his speeches alone in his apt, his cowboy clothes, his relationship with an underage girl....only his ending didn't turn out so great like Travis'.
~ "How are we gonna win our money back?"share
Gee, I would have never seen the parallels.
I think it was very tastefully done. I don't think it is another Taxi Driver though, far from it. Yes, there are similarities but it is a different film, very different.
Open you minds people and stop trying to classify everything you see or hear, because you don't have to.
OA-5599
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lol Whoa, take it easy. Speaking for myself...
I never said this was a "taxi driver rip off" film.
This was a great film, well tastefully done and Yes..a whole different film.
My whole point was that the writer of "Down in the Valley" was probably inspired by the Taxi Driver film because of the similarities.
Just like how director Brian DePalma was inspired by "Vertigo" when he was making "Obsession" and "Body Double"...thats all.
Down in the valley definetly holds its own.
~ "How are we gonna win our money back?"share
"His ending didn't turn out so great like Travis'"? Do you mean when Travis attempts to assassinate a presidential candidate? Or do you mean when he kills several people to "save" a young woman who, by her own admission, was content with her life?
Travis Bickle is not a hero, nor did writer Paul Shrader and director Martin Scorcese intend him to be. Bickle is a sociopath who hates almost everyone he encounters in the film, especially anyone he perceives as unattainable and therefore arrogant (Betsy), authority figure (Harvey Keitel's character), or a father figure (the politician).
Welcome to the films of the late Sixties and 1970s, when writers and directors weren't afraid to bring interesting-but-deranged characters to the screen, and audiences understood and appreciated films that were original and thought-provoking.
"His ending didn't turn out so great like Travis'"? Do you mean when Travis attempts to assassinate a presidential candidate?
~ "How are we gonna win our money back?"share