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 The Best of Taxicab Confessions (1996)Runtime: 50 mins. Director: Harry Gantz, Joe Gantz Cast: The people of New York City Genre: Reality Most memorable quote: " If all black people were to unite, we'd be unstoppable"
Awards: Review by Frank Wilkins
One lesser known but equally entertaining HBO original program is Taxicab Confessions, conceived and directed by the Gantz brothers, Joe and Harry, whose more recent Sex With Strangers is also being met with success. In Taxicab Confessions, we ride along in a big city taxicab configured with several strategically located lipstick-size cameras throughout the cab. We are treated to very interesting and candid conversations between the cab driver and his fare. The Best of Taxicab Confessions is a compilation of eight individual segments consisting of anywhere from one to five cab occupants at a time. It's amazing to me what these fares are so willing to confess. With skillful prodding and baiting by the drivers, the confessions range from sad and desperate to funny and outrageous. An EMT tells us what happens to the body of a train passenger who falls between the train and the platform. Five dolled-up Bronx vixens load into the back seat preparing for a night on the town. Some are married, some are not. We meet a single lesbian who attempts to seduce the female cab driver. A girl tells us about her plans of violent revenge for her cheating boyfriend. A single man coaxes the cab driver to pull up to a hooker on their way to "The Playpen", as he informs the driver that he masturbates three or four times a day. We see two girls who share a bottle of Vodka as one describes what she likes to do to men and the other describes what she likes to do to women. As the credits role, we see little video vignettes of the cab drivers revealing the secret to the participants who deliver Candid Camera like responses of "you're kidding right" as they sign the release form. I was expecting snowy black and white images, but the quality of the video and audio is surprisingly good, considering that it was filmed with hidden cameras. The production value is decent but not memorable, most closely resembling those "Wildest Police Chase" videos with New York City nightlife scenes and flashing cars that separate the segments. The original music is quite appropriate and mesmerizing. The video begins with REM's Everybody Hurts, foreshadowing much of the sad and desperate solitude of many of the cab's fares. I understand that the TV series covers cabs in many big cities, but The Best of Taxicab Confessions is compiled of segments from New York City cabs only. I think much of the success of this film comes from the unique character and attitudes of New Yorkers themselves. What other segment of our population would be so willing to discuss their most intimate moments to a complete stranger? Frank Wilkins This film is available only in VHS format. |
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