Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver from 1976 is supposed to be a masterpiece among films within post new realism, and a neo noir artistic peak. There is little doubt that it contributed to bringing actor Robert de Niro to stardom, and his portrayal of ex marine and taxi driver Travis Bickle's showdown with moral decay and inner demons is not bad, it's just not very impressive. Also his character occasionally gets less credible as it is building towards a crescendo, and the plot easily becomes predictable. However, then 13 year old Jodie Foster is amazing as the way under aged prostitute Iris. Her acting performance truly stands out and is the highlight of the film. Taxi Driver probably had a fundamental purpose as a reaction to the Vietnam War and the 1970's morally withering society, but in retrospect it's not timeless.