Analysis of the opening scene from Taxi Driver

Usman Javaid

There was the use of an extreme close up of the main characters eyes, which shows hes in some sort of distress this relates to Noir as from the look in his eyes he looks like hes troubled by a past event, which we later find out later on in the sequence. In editing there was the use of a fade from the main characters eyes to the taxi depot, which transitioned by smoke this relates to Noir because smoke is part of the iconography of film Noir, and it adds a moodier feeling to the film. There is also the use of a score from when the camera is inside the car. This relates to Noir as it uses piano and saxophone this gives it a feel of the older Noir films. There is also the use of incidental music when the main character comes in to the depot this music emphasises the point that he is troubled individual. In the mise en scene there is the main characters jacket, which is a flight jacket, which shows that he is still troubled by his military past. There is also a use of a zoom where the character is talking to the depot worker by the face expressions that are shown its clear that he is troubled by something. There was also a medium close up used on the depot worker by the expression on his face he looks concerned and worried looking into the face of the troubled man. There also the use of dialogue between the main character and depot worker their conversation consists of the main characters military career and his involvement in the marines the main characters military career could be the source of his troubles. There is also the use of an establishing shot, which is used after the credits, which is a shot of smoke, which is an iconic thing to use within the film noir genre. There is also the use of low-key lighting and shadows on the side of the taxi, which were also iconic to be used within the film noir genre. There is also the use of a medium shot, which is from inside the taxi, which is wiping rain of the window screen this shows that it is raining which again is typical convention in the film noir genre. A extreme long shot is also used when the camera is going the street the neon lights in this are again a typical convention of film noir. There is also the appearance of the main character with the elements of his scruffy clothes and his overgrown beard shows that he is washed up and emphasise the point that he is troubled.