9. Taxi Driver - An Existentialist Perspective

9. Taxi Driver - An Existentialist Perspective

Author: A.S.K. July 11, 2020 Duration: 45:13

This time around (with tight time-constraints) we sit down to discuss the "instant-classic" Taxi-Driver. In a first where the fanboy was actually disappointed, we talk about the different themes, endings, and parallels that can be drawn from the movie. So join us as Shreyas starts doubting his life choices, Kshitij is disillusioned by critics and Rathi reflects on his opinions.

Watch here {https://youtu.be/Q1igE-hxeHo} with edits from the movie!

Things that we discussed this dark episode

[T] 00:00 - Intro and first impressions [V] Trailer: {https://youtu.be/UUxD4-dEzn0} [T] 2:45 - A comparison with Joker [T] 4:44 - A discussion about the ending(s) [N] AMA with the Paul Schrader {https://bit.ly/3eeV5VV} [V] The "Dream Sequence" ending described {https://youtu.be/CJ922ZaZVwI} [S] Do your dreams have to be rational? [T] 11:59 - Paradoxes and Contradiction [T] 14:43 - Similarities to Princess Mononoke {https://imdb.to/325z1La} [N] A director directing Travis with what he should do {https://youtu.be/VBEa_roMi7s} [T] 23:18 - Taxi drivers and killers [N] De Niro as a taxi driver in NYC {https://yhoo.it/3fiznSj} [S] Which serial killers are more scary? (Ans: they all are) [T] 27:54 - An interview with Scorsese and Schrader {https://bit.ly/3fuIdNb} [T] 29:46 - A disturbing portrayal of childhood fantasies [T] 33:53 - Why we like Joker {https://imdb.to/329wgZg} [T] 35:30 - Cinematography [T] 38:19 - The confused nature of the movie [T] 39:20 - The commentary on Feminism and Masculinity [V] Masculinity in the age of feminism {https://youtu.be/-pAcJ0lFu94} [T] 43:07 - The final scene and parting thoughts

Image Source: Cristiano Siqueira Intro Song: Eiji · Banana Fish


Every Saturday, Aditya, Shreyas, and Kshitij-three friends navigating the uncertainty of post-college life-gather for A Random Mexican-Standoff. The premise is simple: bring a passionate, often fiercely held opinion about any piece of art, media, or culture into the room. What follows is never simple. Each conversation is a spirited, unscripted clash of perspectives, where a debate over a beloved film's ending can spiral into an exhaustive analysis of its soundtrack, cinematography, and cultural impact. The terrain of these friendly skirmishes is wildly unpredictable, covering everything from the sublime to the seemingly trivial with equal intensity. You'll hear the energy of three voices diving headlong into the things that genuinely move them, dissecting video games, books, music, and movies with a depth that borders on obsessive. This isn't a formatted review show; it's the sound of lifelong friendships tested by passionate disagreement and solidified by shared curiosity. Tune in to this leisure-focused podcast for the feeling of pulling up a chair at a lively, ongoing argument among friends, where the only guaranteed outcome is a thoroughly examined opinion. New episodes arrive weekly, each a fresh battlefield for their latest cultural fixations.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 14

A Random Mexican-Standoff
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