Mean Streets

This 1973 Martin Scorsese film is often referred to as a landmark film and highly influential as to how future movies of the genre were made. I was looking forward to seeing it.

In the movie Charlie played by Harvey Keitel is a young Italian trying to move up in the Mafia organization run by his Uncle. Charlie lives next to and is a good friends with Johnny Boy, played by Robert DeNiro. I think right after this part DeNiro must have got the part of young Vito in The Godfather II but I am not sure of the chronology of his parts.

The movie is lauded for it's symbolism. Charlie is a devout Catholic and the movie takes place with the neighborhood celebrating a Catholic festival, Charlie is trying to balance his duties to his belief in the church and his place in the Mob. His Uncle has paternal feelings for Charlie but cautions him against associating with Johnny who he feels is a two bit hood nor Charlie's sister Teresa who is epileptic and this to be shunned.

Little does he know that Johnny is Charlie's pal and little does he or Johnny know that he is sleeping with Teresa.

In the end Charlie tries to walk a fine line. Johnny is in trouble because, as he says, he has borrowed money from everyone in the neighborhood and paid no one back. Finally a shark is adamant about wanting his money and Charlie tries to intervene and keep Johnny from getting himself in deeper.

Charlie sets up a meeting with the shark for Johnny to show good faith. Johnny is seemingly incapable of playing it straight and insults the man to whom he owes money and pulls a gun on him. A gun he later admits was not loaded but the damage is done.

Charlie, Teresa and Johnny set off for Brooklyn so that Johnny can lay low for awhile. As they drive they are cut off by another car and shots are fired. It seems they have been followed. As he was driving Charlie was talking to God bemoaning his unsuccessful efforts to please everyone and as the movie ends and Johnny is taken away in an ambulance after being shot and Charlie has been shot in the hand the movie ends.

What does it all mean. I have no idea. I just was not that impressed with the movie. Keitel was fine and DeNiro played a punked up no brain as well as could be expected. The imagery was vague and unclear. The ending was muddy, we not only do not know what happens to the characters we do not really even know the point of the movie.

Not being sold as a day in the life the movie has no meaning.

Perhaps it is grittiness and realism it was influential for later, better movies but on it's own merit it is nothing special.