Mean Streets

Movies 365: Day 24 – Mean Streets

Another short one due to time restraints.

When Mean Streets was released in 1973, Martin Scorsese had already directed two other films, his student film Who’s That Knocking at My Door and Boxcar Bertha, which was a directing assignment for Roger Corman. Mean Streets is considered to be the first true Scorsese film, and fortunately for him, it’s pretty damn good. Mean Streets follows the story of Charlie (Harvey Keitel) a small time hood, torn between his faith, the local mafia, and his loyalty to his friend, the volatile Johnny Boy (Robert DeNiro). Keitel is really good in the film, but DeNiro steals the show, his performance as Johnny Boy is one of his best, and reminds you that there was a time when he actually played characters, and not just Robert DeNiro. Scorsese does a really great job here also, though not as polished as his later films, Mean Streets displays many of his trademarks, Catholicism, beautiful tracking shots, and of course a great soundtrack. Though not as strong as some of his later films, Mean Streets has a passion and intensity to it that seems to be lacking from some of his later films. If you’re a Scorsese fan who hasn’t seen Mean Streets yet, do yourself a favor and watch it immediately.