In this movie you see the Scorsese's talent. All the close-up cuts, the ensemble between fight scenes and music, the way he moves the camera between people and actions occurring at the same time, it's all their. However, the story did not catch me at all. Hate Keitel and De Niro roles, the story is always stuck and the film has a poor ending. 70's background? Didn't work for me.
There are a lot of things I like about this movie (the themes, DeNiro, Keitel), a lot of things I hate (the lighting, the sound, Amy Robinson, the over use of music), and a lot of things that I am indifferent to (the story, the rest of the ensemble, the direction). To sum it up, the film suggests greatly of Scorsese's talent here and there, but doesn't quite come together. Still not that bad though.
It is certainly his best gangster film. Far more visceral, gritty, and real, and a stunning character study and look at sin, guilt, and conformity. A masterpiece, and along with Taxi Driver and Raging Bull one of his best films.
This does not look or feel like an American film, and that is the greatest tribute I can pay it. Where has this Scorsese gone?
not my favorite Scorsese film. I couldnt really get engaged in it even though there were a few good moments. I got about 75% through it but stopped it. I enjoyed Harvey Keitel and De Niro here, but it wasnt enough to keep me watching it. Harvey's character reminds me a little of the one he played in Scorsese's earlier film: "Who's That Knocking at My Door?"
I'll never forget the scene when Harvey Keitel goes to meet the black dancer for their date and then stands her up. That scene is too real. You'd think it would be different now but it isn't.
Mean Streets remains Scorsese's most deeply personal and autobiographical film, as well as his masterpiece. The immigrant culture of Little Italy and the atmosphere of New York City, the Catholic themes of sin and redemption, and daily urban life all became recurrent themes throughout his entire oeuvre. Plus, the use of street language, radical editing, a rock music soundtrack, and realistic location shooting made Mean Streets not only the most influential independent American film of the 1970s but perhaps the most influential modern American motion picture, in general.
A stunning masterpiece, still Scorsese's best gangster film, and after Taxi Driver and Raging Bull his best film period
The performances are so engrossing that you don't even notice there isn't a plot to speak of until about a quarter of the way through. Truth be told, that's one of my favorite things about this movie!
I'd say it is his best--it's the most realistic and it gives us the most detailed characters (it's also his most personal film as it was drawn from the fabric of neighborhood life in Little Italy.)
You know Michael, you make me laugh. You see, I borrow money all over this neighborhood, left and right from everybody, I never pay them back. So, I can't borrow no money from nobody no more, right? So who would that leave me to borrow money from but you? I borrow money from you, because you're the only jerk-off around here who I can borrow money from without payin' back, right? De Niro is AMAZING!!!
I can't beleive this film will turn 40 years old in a couple of years, it is really refreshing to see heavyweights Keitel and De Niro doing such wonderful jobs since that young. This is the film that established everything we think of when we hear NYC mafia, Scorsese's influence prevails hands down in nowadays genre alikes going from The Sopranos to Tarantino.
Outside of the brilliant Nick Nolte episode in NEW YORK STORIES, I have never gotten more pleasure out of a Martin Scorsese film than MEAN STREETS. To me, it is not only his most personal film, it is also his funniest and most inspired. And it is also the high point of Robert DeNiro's career. Sorry.
