Martin Ansin's "Taxi Driver" Movie Poster

If you visit this site with any regularity, you already know I tend to write reviews for film and television inspired prints that are either currently on sale or are about to go on sale. And while I'll still be pouring the majority of my efforts into those sorts of posts, my daily "Poster Per Diem" feature will focus on awesome prints that have since sold out, never existed in the first place (AKA concept posters) or just bear mentioning. In other words: this is my chance to say, "I never got a chance, for whatever reason, to write about you on this here website, but I think you're really purty and I want to let the world know." Or something like that. Oh, and Per diem is latin for "per day" or "each day."

Taxi Driver Movie Poster
Martin Ansin
24" x 36" (Screen Print) - Numbered
Included with Ticket Price - Edition Size TBD

This one's a little bittersweet for me because, on the one hand, holy shit, it's a Martin Ansin Taxi Driver poster! Again: holy shit, it's a Martin Ansin Taxi Driver poster! On the other hand, this print will only be available to the lucky folks attending a screening of the film in Austin next week. Meaning, if you really want to get your hands on one (and honestly, who doesn't?), then you'd better be prepared to pay a hefty price on the secondary market. But enough whining, it is what it is. And what it is, is a breathtaking piece of artwork by one of the most talented artists in the world for one of the most celebrated films ever made. Ansin skillfully taps into Bickle's isolation, suggesting that even while Travis is walking the crowded streets of New York City, his inability to communicate with those around him has all but guaranteed a sad and solitary existence. In the words of Mr. Bickle himself (taken from Taxi Driver):

"Loneliness has followed me my whole life. Everywhere. In bars, in cars, sidewalks, stores, everywhere. There's no escape. I'm God's lonely man..."

To learn more about the artist, head over to martinansin.com and follow @martinansin. And to keep up to date on all things Mondo, be sure to follow @mondonews on Twitter.

Poster Per Diem: Maxwellito's "Taxi Driver" Concept Art

If you visit this site with any regularity, you already know I tend to write reviews for film and television inspired prints that are either currently on sale or are about to go on sale. And while I'll still be pouring the majority of my efforts into those sorts of posts, my daily "Poster Per Diem" feature will focus on awesome prints that have since sold out, never existed in the first place (AKA concept posters) or just bear mentioning. In other words: this is my chance to say, "I never got a chance, for whatever reason, to write about you on this here website, but I think you're really purty and I want to let the world know." Or something like that. Oh, and Per diem is latin for "per day" or "each day."

Taxi Driver Concept
Maxwellito
Not for Sale

While browsing Behance, I happened upon Maxwellito's "Classic Propaganda" portfolio, which the artist had described as, "kind of Soviet style." I was intrigued. True to his (or her) word, inside I found a collection of distinctly propagandistic looking movie poster concepts. My favorite piece was the above Taxi Driver design for its use of shadow and the clever wall-o-taxis in the background. To learn more about the artist, you can visit Maxwellito's Behance portfolio and maxwellito.com.

Disturbia Clothing's "Travis Bickle" & "Redrum" Art Prints

Taxi Driver is easily one of my top ten films of all time and possibly my favorite Scorsese film (although I also happen to love Casino). Disturbia Clothing, a company I'm not all that familiar with has recently released a Taxi Driver-inspired art printed, titled "Travis Bickle." But wait, there's more. Disturbia had also previously released The Shining-inspired art print, titled "Redrum." Pretty cool, right?


Travis Bickle

This print captures one of the films most iconic scenes (in a film filled with iconic scenes) near the very end of its runtime. In terms of photo realism, it's pretty spot on. And in a funny way, this print and the film have more in common then one would think. Taxi Driver, a film that really pushed the envelope of what was acceptable in cinema (as many films of the 70s did), had an issue with the MPAA and in order to get an R rating, Scorsese was forced to desaturate the color of the blood to make it less realistic looking. This print also features blood that, while not desaturated in any way (quite the opposite, in fact), has certainly been tampered with and makes the blood less realistic in appearance and indeed more stylistic. Wow - okay, that might have been a bit of a reach on my part, but you've got to respect me for trying! Anywho, the "Travis Bickle" art print is available through Disturbia's store in the 'Art Prints' section for £17 (roughly $27) plus shipping. The screen printed poster measures 18" x 24" and is limited to an edition of 50. Get'em while they're hot!


Redrum

Reprinted from a previous review I had written on the "Redrum" art print: Somehow Kubrick's The Shining is one of those rare films that continues and, in my opinion, will continue for a long long time, to inspire artist to create some magnificent (read: horrifying) artwork. What a masterful layout. Using Jack Torrance’s outline as a frame for the twins and elevators of blood? Brilliant, brilliant stuff. Add to that the inspired inclusion of the labyrinth and you’ve got one amazing design. I have to admit I wasn’t sure how I felt about the lighter almost-pink blood for about the first five seconds, but now I’m all in. The incoming flood of sanguine fluid really draws in the eye. The "Redrum" print measures 18" x 24" and is limited to an edition of 50 for the low cost of £17 (around $27) through Disturbia's online store. These have been on sale for a while, so I can't imagine there are that many left. You can check out the artist, Michele Boscagli, through his Myspace page.

As a reminder for those of you that haven't entered the Posterocalypse Fighter giveaway yet, I'll be giving away The Fighter movie poster by Alan Hynes and a mystery print on February 28th to one lucky person who leaves a comment with their name and email address (US only) in last Saturday's blog post (it was titled "Giveaway - The Fighter by Alan Hynes"). Good luck!