EXTRA FEATURES<\/strong><\/p>\nThe extras are also another major bonus of this release, featuring a raft of interesting supplementary material.<\/p>\n
Original 1986 Commentary with Director Martin Scorsese and Writer<\/strong>: Perhaps the highlight is the inclusion of the 1986 audio commentary Scorsese and Schrader recorded for the Criterion LaserDisc. Although 15 years old, it is brilliantly informative and a fantastic resource for fans and students of the film. Scorsese talks about stylistic influences, shooting in New York and various production details whilst Schrader discusses the inspiration for the story, the themes and his take on the film. They are recorded separately but\u00a0edited together\u00a0with\u00a0a moderator who\u00a0provides\u00a0even more background information.<\/p>\nInteractive Script to Screen<\/strong>: This feature shows the script on-screen as the film plays and you sync the script with the film or look at it independently from the film. Perhaps of most interest to film students, it also provides an interesting bridge between how a script looks on page and how it translates visually to the screen.<\/p>\nAudio Commentary by Robert Kolker<\/strong>: The film professor from the University of Virginia provides a highly informative commentary that delves into many facets of the film. From detailed discussions of the visuals to the overall history and impact of the film, it is well worth listening to.<\/p>\nAudio Commentary by Paul Schrader<\/strong>: The screenwriter does another full commentary, this time on his own, and discusses the\u00a0inspiration for his script, the differences between page and screen, the acting and his feelings about the finished film. Given his personal connection with the material,\u00a0it makes for an illuminating perspective on the film.<\/p>\nMartin Scorsese on Taxi Driver<\/strong> (16:52): An interview with the director where he discusses the background to the film, his career up to that point, how he got hired, Paul Schrader’s script, shooting in New York during 1975, how he related to the central character, the European influences on the film and where it sits in his career.<\/p>\nProducing Taxi Driver<\/strong> (9:53): Producer Michael Phillips speaks about his role in getting the film made, his earlier Oscar-winning success with The Sting (1973), how the dark script was initially a problem with the studio, working with Scorsese and De Niro and the legacy of the film.<\/p>\nGod’s Lonely Man<\/strong> (21:42): A piece on the character of Travis Bickle, which sees Paul Schrader discuss how his own personal problems influenced the character and how he became a figure people identified with.<\/p>\n