MovieChat Forums > Mean Streets (1973) Discussion > How good is this movie?

How good is this movie?


Usually whenever people make a favorite Scorsese film list this is nowhere in sight. I wonder why. I want to see this but it's really hard to find. I know it's gotten good reviews but maybe it's dated and that's why it's not as known? I don't know. I want to see this though. Can't go wrong with a De Niro/Scorsese team-up.

"I find your lack of faith disturbing..."

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Nowhere in sight? Huh, that's pretty strange, I've seen it in many top 3's. In fact, I consider it as good as Raging Bull and Taxi Driver. Taxi Driver might still be my favorite Scorsese film, and even my favorite movie of all time, but this one is just fantastic, and, along Who's That Knocking at My Door, is Scorsese's most personal film. Words can't describe my love for this gem. Just watch it, you won't regret it. It is the film that made me say "That's it, I'm going to be a movie director and make a film like this one." You know, first time I've seen it, I can't say I liked it that much, but after a second viewing, I consider it to be one of the best movies ever made. Robert De Niro delivers one of his best performance in his entire career, and Harvey Keitel does a fabulous job as well. Harvey has became one of my favorite actors after seeing this film.

It's not dated at all, and trust me, every Scorsese fan (and no, I'm not talking about people who love The Departed and that's it) would say that this movie is up there with Raging Bull and Taxi Driver. It was and still is a very innovative movie for its time, with an absolutely fantastic soundtrack (using music like that in a film was something very special back then, in fact I could say that Scorsese has influenced a lot of filmmakers with his use of music in Mean Streets), and the camerawork is simply great (there's even one scene when the camera is stripped to Keitel's body!), and then Scorsese also uses slowmotion, which I've found really interesting.

Do see it, you won't regret it. I really hope you can find it. Please come back here and share your thoughts on it after you see this masterpiece.

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You'd be doing yourself an incredible disservice by not seeing this film. Period.
Id say its my favorite Scorsese film and the one I usually visit the most, followed closely by Taxi Driver.
To me its such an enthusiastic film, I see someone who really wanted to make something that was personal as well as highly entertaining.

People always say, "its too slowwww!" or "boring! Its a snoozefest." I feel like they just dont want to invest their time into the characters, take a look at them and say, "Hey! I know a guy like Johnny Boy, or Michael etc."
Everybody knows at least one personality from this movie.

Thats what keeps me interested. Well that and the top notch acting, camera work, and music.

See this film, wait, just buy it. Pretty sure you can get a copy off amazon.com
The bly ray is coming out next month.

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I completely endorse seeing this. Even if you don't find the story interesting, the film itself is such an exciting demonstration of the swaggeringly visceral potential of Scorsese's style, his ability to completely electrify the screen. I never get bored of it.








"Reality is the new fiction they say, truth is truer these days, truth is man-made"

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Waste of time. De Niro was good as he ever was, but who cares if the thing stinks?

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Doesn't stink. At all.

If you're expecting a fast-paced, ultra violent, and stylish Scorsese/DeNiro picture, you won't find it here. I mean sure, it's somewhat violent, albeit a little tame compare to Taxi Driver, Goodfellas and Casino, but blood is shed. Is it stylish? Yes, but it's not overdone and in your face. Is it fast-paced? Nope. The film isn't slow either, but it revolves around troublesome youths in Little Italy, nothing big but not a waste of time. The main issue i've seen several people complain about, is the lack of action and plot; nothing happens so they lose interest. When you watch this, appreciate it for its time, it is the benchmark for every Scorsese film that came afterwards in terms of his style: memorable camera angles, music, De Niro, Keitel, broads, shoot-outs, bars, New York; it's all here, just in a smaller scale, but definitely gritty. A masterpiece in my eyes.

Dennis: I swallowed some apple seeds today.
Mac: Did you make yourself throw up?

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Dont look at it as dated...look at it as a classic. It is a great film.

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People can hate it all they want, but I think it's good.

"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Then beat 'em"-Mario

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You can watch this movie on HBO GO currently... HBO GO is free to all HBO subscribers

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