Avant garde American crime film “Mean Streets” (1973), directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Harvey Keitel, Robert de Niro, Amy Robinson, Richard Romanus among others.
Its only the second of his full length feature film directed by Martin Scorsese, first one being “Who’s that Knocking on my Door” (1967). Its a kind of semi autobiographical as he portrays all that he has been watching on the streets of America.
Its also Robert de Niro’s first movie with Scorsese, so the later characters of de Niro in films like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull got somewhat developed from this movie. Robert de Niro (Johnny) is a brash youngster who does no work and takes loan from one and all.
Harvey Keitel (Charlie) is his best friend and supports him thick and thin. Charlie is also in love with Johnny’s cousin Theresa (Amy Robinson) who has epilepsy. Charlie wants to set up his own restaurant with his uncle’s help but his uncle asks him to dump both Johnny and Theresa.
Charlie is a devout Christian yet at the same time involved in his uncle’s illegal businesses. Harvey Keitel’s second movie with Scorsese carries on the characterization from the first 1967 movie “Who’s That knocking on my Door”.
Mean Streets is a pulsating, energy driven movie throbbing with the life of the ugly kind to be found in such places. There is tension & desperation in the air as Charlie tries to sort out his friend, care for his girl friend and yet be normal. Harvey Keitel has acted brilliantly for his role in the movie while de Niro debuts with that angst of an angry youth which is fine tuned in his later movies.
Scorsese has carried further his experimentation which he started from his 1967 movie into this film, combining Italian opera music with the chaos, hustle & bustle of Little Italy and perfecting his stylisation. IMDB 6/10
Picture taken from the internet for representational purpose only not with an intention to violation of copyright
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