Robert De Niro has admitted that he never expected his iconic film Taxi Driver to achieve the legendary status it now holds. The actor, who earned his second Oscar nomination for his lead role in Martin Scorsese's 1976 drama, confessed that he never approaches a project with the expectation of it becoming a hit. He believes that a film's ultimate success is largely 'out of your control.'
A Surprising Legacy
Taxi Driver received four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, but did not win any major awards. Screenwriter Paul Schrader has suggested that the film's controversial nature may have been a factor in its lack of Oscar success. Schrader also revealed that Columbia Pictures was initially taken aback by the film's commercial and critical success, having considered it an 'outlier' with minimal marketing efforts.
Method Acting and Young Talent
Jodie Foster, who was just 12 years old when she starred opposite De Niro, recounted his intense method acting during filming. She noted that De Niro's explanation of his process helped her understand character development at a young age. Foster's performance in the film also earned her critical acclaim.
De Niro's reflections come as Taxi Driver continues to be celebrated as a cinematic masterpiece, influencing countless filmmakers and actors over the decades. The film's exploration of isolation, violence, and urban decay remains as relevant today as it was in the 1970s.
