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In Reply to: I take issue with 2 points posted by monsanto on October 21, 1999 at 13:29:48:
The movie is open to wide interpretation, as Scorscese and Schraeder don't
give a whole lot to go on. Critics say the porno movie scene is the
weakest,most implausbile one of the film. I suppose anyone, including
Travis could suffer from "doublethink", that is, holding two contradictory
ideas at the same time and not be aware of it, i.e.,in his case, detest the
immorality of the situation, while simultaneously patronizing an establishment that promulgated immorality. Or maybe, he was just a big
hypocrite and was fully aware of the incongruity, but didn't give a flyin'
rats arse. Perhaps he thought that what
was good enough for him was good enough for Betsy. But obviously she didn't
feel the film was up to her standards. It's been quite a while since I
viewed the film, here's a question: usually porno movie theaters can
be readily identified from the outside(?) with movies ads, posters and so
on. Was the theater in a sleazy section? If so, why didn't Betsy know
what she was getting into? Will have to watch that scene closely and see
what gives.
On your second point, about him possibly not being a hero, with everything
at the end in his head; an interesting thought, but if he wasn't vindicated
as a do-gooder who risked his life liberating Iris, then how could he be
back driving a taxi unless the time frame leaped years, because he certainly would have done considerable jail time for murder, and it's
very possible that he would have been convicted for premeditated first
degree murder, which carries a life sentence or death penalty in NY. I
realize that some time must have elapsed because he needed time, maybe a
few months to recuperate from his neck wound, in order to be physically
able to work. - AH
You both bring up some good points. However, here's my interpretation on a few things. First off, you must realize that Travis is NOT a sane man. As far as the porno theater goes, we know Travis loathes "scumbags." However, he's not a hypocrite. I don't think he viewed the porno movie as "scum." He's screwed up, so the correlation between porn and scum was never made. He thought nothing of it. It was not a "test" for Betsy. He just brought her along for his "everyday routine." As far as the ending is concerned, Scorsese may not give us a definitive answer...but Herrmann does! First, I think all that happened really happened. Of course it's possible it was in Travis' mind, but I doubt it. That double take in the rearview mirror is rather creepy to me. But the definitive answer comes from Bernard Herrmann's music. The final three chilling notes are the exact same notes from Herrmann's Psycho. This tells us that Travis is a very disturbed and dangerous man. The movie ends, but Travis' story does not.
In the final analysis, I too feel Travis was not a hypocrite, I mentioned
it as a point of speculation, and that's exactly a lot of what this is.
Obviously he is not sane and doesn't think like a normal person; however,
it can be argued he suffered from "doublethink"; this is not uncommon, not even for sane people; lots of people, including myself, have
committed this type of fallacious thinking, it can go on indefinitely if
not exposed for what it is through rigorous argumentation from others as
a number of people simply don't have the capacity for deep, objective self-
analysis.
As for Herrmann's ominous "three notes"; this portentous indicator points
to what I had in mind when I stated that Travis had received a catharsis
from the climatic battle and ironic resolution, but qualified the statement
by saying "at least temporarily", implying that Mr. Bickle indeed might not
have completely exorcised the demons from his tortured soul. - AH
wow. thanks for adding that bit about the last three notes. i really have to watch this film again.
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