Mean Streets (1973)
Genre: Crime / Drama
Duration: 112 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Stars: Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel and David Proval
IMDb score:
7,2 (127.518)
Releasedate: 14 October 1973
Mean Streets plot
"You don't make up for your sins in church. You do it in the streets..."
A cruel portrait of the possessed relationship between two crooks who make a living in New York's Little Italy neighborhood, where the message is: if you deal in crime, you pay with violence. Love and fidelity have no values, when they could come in handy.
Actors and actresses
John 'Johnny Boy' Civello
Charlie Cappa
Tony DeVienazo
Teresa Ronchelli
Michael Longo
Giovanni Cappa
Mario
Joey 'Clams' Scala
Jimmy
Diane
Reviews & comments
Fisico
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- 10039 messages
- 5398 votes
A film I wanted to see anyway because it was one of Scorsese's first productions. Unfortunately, he fell short. The storyline, in particular, was very thin to messy, but didn't lead anywhere. The film is basically about Johnny Boy, played by Robert De Niro, who, like a meaningless criminal, makes about debts, but has no intention of fulfilling his promises. He is heavily in debt to various loan sharks, but is kept a hand over his head by Charlie (Harvey Keitel). Because Charlie finds his relationship with Johnny Boy and his niece more important, he finds himself in a constant conflict and his career as a mafia kingpin under the wings of his uncle is in the doldrums.
Especially the rest of the excellent acting performances by Keitel in the first place. De Niro is also doing well, but interprets a somewhat annoying little bitch. It's a miracle, by the way, that he manages to punch himself everywhere, and you can sometimes take that literally. Mean Streets will mainly be remembered as a very atmospheric film from dingy New York from the 70s. Great opening scene also when De Niro appears on the scene and Keitel stares at him. Nice soundtrack too, which at times brings a bit of panache, but all in all it just isn't. Solid, but a stronger plot would have done the film more than good.
It's nice to discover other films in films. Many movie posters are reviewed, but The searchers from 1956 was clearly recognizable in the cinema. The tomb of Ligeia (1964) also briefly appeared.
Translated from Dutch · View original
filmfan0511
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- 1099 messages
- 1127 votes
Nice video actually. Didn't have such high hopes for this; Scorcese is absolutely worth its weight in gold as a director, but there are not the best opinions about this (quasi) debut. However, it suited me very well. Atmosphere creation is already very strong here with that dark and gloomy use of color, and those bar scenes bathed in a red glow are a feast for the eyes. Typical Scorsese already. A very young Keitel puts in a very good performance here, the rest of the cast was a bit more average. This is where Scorsese and De Niro's long-standing partnership begins, but this has to be by far one of De Niro's most boring roles ever. Well acted, but he has to play a too irritating man.
But otherwise you really notice that Scorsese had a great career ahead. It all fits together very well. Also interesting to know is that the late Gandolfini (Tony Soprano) cited this film as one of his greatest sources of inspiration. You would think that a film like Goodfellas would qualify for this earlier, but I think it is understandable.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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