Mean Streets
Martin Scorsese got off to a tremendous start here with a film that is gritty, realistic and entertaining. The first hour in particular is unbelievable, with one great scene following another (DeNiro’s entrance to Jumpin Jack Flash, his ad-libbed monologue on why he can’t pay the money, the “fuckin mook” barfight, the Carradine Bros shooting, etc.), making you start to wonder if Scorsese can keep it up. Sadly, unlike Goodfellas, he cannot, running out of steam in the second hour with almost every scene used to set up the ending. The soundtrack, wonderfully utilized in the first half, gets reduced to opera standards and VERY dated 50s music. The ending, sudden and abrupt, nonetheless redeems things to a point that the film finishes on a strong note. As for the acting, Keitel is serviceable as Charlie, making us understand him yet never quite drawing us in enough to care about him. Proval and Romanus as his two best buds are rather bland and interchangable. Danova has some good moments as Keitel’s uncle, a big wheel in the NY mob scene. Amy Robinson is cloying and unattractive as Keitel’s love interest. And then there is Robert DeNiro. There is something to be said about playing clearly the biggest asshole in the film yet still being the only character the viewer really roots for. Johnny Boy is crazy, yes, but he’s also likeable, and it’s great stuff seeing him shoot down the pretensions of wanna-be wiseguys and small time hoods. A statement was made with this performance, and of course DeNiro went on to more than fulfill the promise he showed here. In the end, a hell of a well-made film despite its low budget, directed with a sure hand by Scorsese and owned acting wise by DeNiro…
8/10