Sunday, June 24, 2007

Ager's Analysis of Scorsese's "Cape Fear"



2 comments:

Mim said...

I've studied the work of Martin Scorsese and IMO, the symbolism discussed here is semi-unintentional.

Taxi Driver also blurred the lines of what is good and what is evil, and presented both qualities in one man, Travis Bickle. I always felt that Cape Fear was a further examination of Bickle's character, and the people he represents.

I also noticed the backwards casting of the original stars and figured it was to make us question what is good and what is evil.

In fact, this film can be compared to Taxi Driver on many levels. In Cape Fear, Scorsese again set DeNiro up with a young girl in a sexual situation. In fact, I don't think you can discuss Cape Fear at all without also mentioning Taxi Driver.

Laura Deerfield said...

Yes, I wasn't convinced that this story is so much about redemption, as I don't see that being Scorsese's approach, as it is about the gray areas, about showing us that everyone is a shade of gray and there are no absolutes. People make choices, and the bad choices may have good motivations - and the good choices may be tainted by bad.