I was ten years old whenMean Streetscame out and I saw it with my parents.
This was the first time I had really seen people I knew on a big screen.
I didnt know them specifically, but they reminded me of my family and my familys friends.
They talked like we did.
They acted like we did.
I recognized the restaurants and streets.
We call him Cousin Marty in my house.
The Jake LaMotta biopicRaging Bullis set in the mob-connected world of boxing.
Salsa blares from the windows.
Italian marches blow on the streets.
Motown hits scream from car radios.
These are the day-job enforcers.
These are Goodfellas on a $500,000 budget.
Scorsese wrote the screenplay with Mardik Martin, while driving around Little Italy.
He sees his friends spiraling self-destruction as penance.
Not to death, though.
Johnny Boy is condemned to live.
To go back to the neighborhood.
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Any mook can start trouble on ScorsesesMean Streets.One bad word can get punches flying.
Jersey … Philadelphia).
The neighborhood padrone, Giovanni, is past his time of violence.
He counsels Charlie to be patient and honorable, giving the same advice he gave Charlies father.
Charlie doesnt straighten himself out with the church or the streets.
He cant save his friend from himself and he cant make him see reason and pay off Michael.
The director and the actors are at home and unselfconscious.
Every scene feels improvised and spontaneous.
UltimatelyMean Streetsis a story about redemption denied.
Den of Geek Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
