While undeniably difficult to watch, this grim psychothriller from Martin Scorsese is a brilliant examination of urban psychosis, as the accumulated frustrations of isolation and decaying surroundings turn a lonely cabdriver into a mohawk-wearing, gun-toting madman. Robert De Niro is both scary and sympathetic as Travis Bickle, who fancies himself a war veteran and "gets these headaches." His twin fascinations with a political campaign worker (Cybill Shepherd) and a young prostitute (Jodie Foster) lead him to a well-intentioned but horrifying orgy of bloodshed which, perversely, makes him a media hero. Paul Schrader's script combines elements of film noir, 1950s urban dramas, and Westerns, especially John Ford's 1956 classic The Searchers, which starred John Wayne as borderline-psychotic loner Ethan Edwards. There are several notable supporting turns by a fine cast, including Harvey Keitel, Peter Boyle, Albert Brooks, and Joe Spinell, as well as a creepy cameo by Scorsese himself. Restored versions highlight Bernard Herrmann's haunting sax score and evocative photography by Michael Chapman, which give the night streets of New York the feel of a surreal nightmare from which some, like Travis, find it hard to awaken. Taxi Driver: Collector's Edition has a featurette on making the film that includes interviews with Scorsese, De Niro, Foster, and others.