Well, if you’d asked me last week, just for kicks I would’ve said Taxi Driver. Who would’ve thought that New York cabbies apparently like the Lethal Weapon films? Granted, most hacks just don’t have the time for a lot of movies, but they all have something to say.
    
Ghuman
Where I hailed him:    Chelsea
Where he hails from:    India
Years as a cabbie:    17
Previous profession:    Retail

I never see movies anymore. My movie watching days ended back in the 80s. What did I watch back then? The classic action movies. Mel Gibson and the Lethal Weapons, Clint Eastwood and the Dirty Harrys. And Scarface — especially Scarface. That was a fine film. ‘Say hello to my little friend, eh!’ A classic…
    
Paul
Where I hailed him:    East Village
Where he hails from:    Bangladesh
Years as a cabbie:    22
Previous profession:    Factory work

When I lived in London I watched more movies. It is funny to tell you this. But I love the actor Roger Moore. Pretty much anything he does I always find that I am enjoying it. The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker — all the Bond movies. He’s my favorite. Octopussy? Yes! Another good one. Really, I must buy a VCR. I haven’t seen these movies in such a long time.  
    
Babii
Where I hailed him:    East Village
Where he hails from:    Morocco
Years as a cabbie:    3
Previous profession:    Student in chemical engineering

I liked 50 First Dates — that was good — and that old one Casablanca — that one is really like the best one. If I’m on vacation I watch a lot of movies. When I’m working and going to school I don’t watch so many. My favorite Moroccan filmmaker is Derkaoui [by which our intrepid correspondent assumes he means Mustapha Derkaoui,  director of such fare as The Beautiful Days Of Scheherazade],  he does like drama movies — its a poor country — so he’s, like, talking about the problems of the country.
    
Omar
Where I hailed him:    LES
Where he hails from:    Pakistan
Years as a cabbie:    20
Previous profession:    Economist

Look, I’m lucky to get enough sleep not to fall asleep driving you back to Greenpoint, my friend. You think I have time for ‘the cinema’ with this job? I work all day, I go home, I sleep. There are no movies for me. I must have some movies in my time? I must have a favorite? You are not a bad journalist. Fair enough. It’s an Italian film. Girasoli,  which in English translates to ‘Sunflower.’ Its stars are Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni. Vittorio De Sica was the director.  And it had a Mancini soundtrack. Basically Loren is in Russia looking around for Mastroianni — MIA since the war. I have seen it four times, but not in many years. It is a fantastic film. Hard to find I would imagine. But worth it? Yes.
    
Ibrahim
Where I hailed him:    Midtown East
Where he hails from:    Ghana
Years as a cabbie:    16
Previous profession:    Always a driver

I don’t watch movies. I’m sorry to tell you. When I go home I watch CNN or the weather and I’m asleep in minutes. Yes, ok, sure. I have some favorite movies. Action movies mainly. All of the Rambos — great! And the Die Hards — especially the first two. And anything with Schwarzenegger. I know the guy is big politician now, but the Terminator movies… Those were great! What, there has been a third Terminator made? No? It is not worth bothering? Ok, I will take your word for it. And do you remember the Predator? Yes? What? Jesse Ventura a governor in Minnesota? I don’t believe it. [This] is an interesting country, my friend.