This document analyzes 9 shots from the film Taxi Driver and identifies how each shot utilizes conventions of film noir through lighting, settings, and visual elements. Key conventions discussed include dim lighting, fog, red lighting symbolizing passion and danger, neon city lights at night, rainy and gloomy weather, blurred and distorted views representing disillusionment, smoke, and shot compositions that establish dominance hierarchies and highlight main characters. Overall, the document examines how the shots adhere to and make use of typical film noir conventions.

3. 2.) This is the title shot of the
sequence. It shows the ‘Taxi
Driver’ logo glowing through fog.
This is effective as the lighting is
dim which is a key feature of a lot
of film noir and the fog which also
a common convention.

4. 3.) This shot shows an extreme close
up of someone's eyes. The lighting is
red, a colour which symbolizes
passion and danger, these are also
common conventions of film noir.

5. 4.) This is a shallow focus
shot through the windscreen
of the car. It shows the neon
lights of the busy city outside
this tends to be a common
location for most film noir.
Also the weather is miserable
and rainy, this signifies gloom
and depression which are
usually common conventions
of film noir.

6. 5.) This shot is a blurred
slow motion long shot of a
busy street, It gives an
almost distorted and
disillusioned view of the
world. Disillusionment is a
common theme in most
film noir.

7. 6.) A shot of people
crossing the road is
shown with a sort of red
mist descended over
them. This may signify
that the public may be in
some form of danger.

8. 7.) an over the shoulder
shot shows a small dingy
office with smoke in front
of the camera. Smoke is a
common convention of
film noir.

9. 8.) This shot shows various
people positioned in the
background. The height
difference and the the way
that they are stood over
each other may show the
dominance and the
hierarchy of these people.

10. 9.) This shallow focus shot
centers deNiro in the shot.
The people in the background
are blurred. This signifies de
Niro’s importance in the
sequence.