YEAH, I'M TALKING TO YOU

Cookie and Irving went to see one of their favorite movies last night, TAXI DRIVER (1976). Seeing this movie on the big screen (it was the first time for Irv) was yet another reason why seeing films the way they were meant to be seen (in a movie theater) is so important.

Irv never noticed during the Travis/Betsy introduction scene, that the Albert Brooks character continues to look at what is transpiring between these two from behind a pillar. It's as if he's a bit jealous at the obvious chemistry between the two and it makes for a very funny moment. The scene during the coffee break date that Travis and Betsy have, is also charming. Travis comes across as boyish and earnest in his swooning of a flirty Betsy. You don't really notice that on TV (at least Irv didn't). It was like watching two teenagers on their first date, kinda sweet, actually (and a funny thing to say about a movie like Taxi driver).

The film's subject matter is very dark as well but in a movie theater, the movie just plain looks dark, literally. TV's are always adjusted for brightness, something you can't really do in a movie theater and that adds to the enjoyment. New York was a very dark, dirty, and VERY dangerous city in the 1970's. Still, there was a bit a romance mixed in and that totally comes across in the film.

Irv walked away from this screening with the same feeling he did when he saw (along with Cookie) the 1976 version of CARRIE (another film he had only seen on TV in the past). The feeling that he had just seen a really GREAT film for the first time.

DVD's are great and Irving enjoys them immensely, but nothing can every replace the movie theater-going experience (especially if it's an old movie palace like the one both these films were viewed).