Mise-en-Scene: The mise-en-scene in Taxi Driver is highly effective in conveying its overall theme and setting. A large component of this is the dreary and grimy atmosphere of New York City that contrasts heavily with its glamorous and glamorous image in other films. The location, the industrial landscapes and the narrowed, dark streets that fill the backdrop all stimulate a sense of dread and isolation consistent with the protagonist, Travis Bickle’s, descent into madness. The props and costumes are also carefully chosen to reflect the fact that Bickle works as a night taxi driver, from his aviator jacket to the single pistol he keeps in his wastepaper basket. The costumes also serve to further emphasizes Bickle’s growing sense of disorientation and isolation through the use of bold colors and textures.

Cinematography: The cinematography in Taxi Driver is also highly effective in conveying its overall theme. The camera is largely focused on Travis, using expressive close-ups to create a sense of the character’s desolate and chaotic mental landscape. The long and low angled takes, with their smooth pans and zooms, enable to convey a sense of Bickle’s stagnancy and resignation, as characters often appear isolated and small within the frame. The lighting also creates a sense of unease, as scenes featuring Bickle’s descent into madness are full of harsh and low key lighting, often casting a low-light glow over the action, further emphasizing his growing paranoia and despair.

Editing: The editing in Taxi Driver is effective in communicating the film’s overall tone and themes. Quick cross-cutting and montage sequences serve to create a sense of unease, as shots of Bickle’s New York City are cut rapidly and jarringly against scenes of him bleakly roaming through the city and the mounting horrors he witnesses. The continuous cutaways to Bickle’s imagined fantasy of a different life create a sense of his desperation, further emphasizing the film’s central theme of alienation and paranoia, while also providing a contrast to his current reality.

Sound: The sound design in Taxi Driver is masterfully used to immerse the viewer in the character’s world. The film’s score, composed by Bernard Herrmann, is intentionally dark and oppressive, using dread-filled strings and horns to unsettle and capture the inner turmoil of Bickle. Similarly, the diegetic sound, from the hum of the city to Bickle’s ear-splitting rock music, serves to create a layered and chaotic sonic landscape, reflecting his inner turmoil and depression.

Acting: The performances of Robert De Niro, Cybill Shepherd and Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver are key in conveying the film’s tone and themes. De Niro in particular masterfully creates a convincing portrayal of Bickle, creating a character whose gradual descent into madness is both pitiful and terrifying. The scenes between Bickle and Betsy and Iris reveal a mix of vulnerability and resentment in the character, with his desperate attempts to keep his cool mostly falling by the wayside due to the events of the film. Furthermore, the performances are uniquely layered. Bickle is simultaneously son, father, protector and aggressor, making him a truly tragic and enthralling character.

In conclusion, Taxi Driver is a powerful and masterful work of cinema in which every element of filmmaking works together to create a devastating and nuanced exploration of urban alienation and paranoia. All the elements of filmmaking used in the film help to effectively convey this theme, from the mise-en-scene to the performances of the cast.