Review: Mean Streets (1973)

After seeing Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets, its easy to tell that his career was going nowhere but up. It really is a precursor to his entire body of work (an amazing precursor at that). Even though it is a spectacular film, I recommend that you watch his other classics before this one. It really makes it a better experience when watching it, because you understand how it all started (plus, its not as approachable as some of his other films).


This movie gave birth to many motifs and themes throughout his career (catholic guilt, strained romantic relationships, family ties vs. friendships, money problems, etc). The film can be described almost like jazz; its seems improvisational sometimes, but afterwards it feels very connected and thought out. The dialogue just flows, and (like most Scorsese films) an entire world is sprung, a community you are already involved in. Its like sitting back, and watching these people's lives take place. Undoubtedly, its a very complex film character wise, but the plot is very straight forward. This makes it easy to watch, and the characters, though hate-able, also very likable. How the friendships build, and fall apart, all help the film glide to the climax.