MovieChat Forums > Mean Streets (1973) Discussion > Editing to 95 minutes Would Make It Far ...

Editing to 95 minutes Would Make It Far Better

posted 12 years ago by Mikeboy0001
5 replies | jump to latest

I mean, I love slow scenes and long movies, for instance, the nº1 movie in my list is 2001 a Space Odyssey, and Terrence Malick is in my Top5 director's of all time. But I think Mean Streets had some scenes that should have been cut or made shorter
A longer movie, doesn't necessarily make it a better movie (Ex. Dances With Wolves - Extended Version), and shorter one can have just the right lenght to make it an all time great (Ex. Days Of Heaven)
I think the direction in this movie is superb, the soundtrack great, the Cinematography top notch, not to mention the acting, but it does drag in some scenes.
This surprised me as one of the many great things in Marty's films, is the editing
With the right editing, this movie would, instead of an IMDB 7.5 (my vote 7), have a very high 8 (my vote would be 9), no doubt about that´
Still, a good movie, with clearly Marty mark

[–] Vladdus 12 years ago

It's funny that you say this, I actually wanted the movie to be even longer. Which scenes are you talking about? The movie is perfectly balanced, in my opinion. Every single scene kept me with my eyes glued to the screen. It's just amazing to see De Niro and Keitel improvising a lot.
What's wrong about the editing? Can't you just enjoy the acting and the action of the film? There's a lot to be appreciated about this film: from amazing camerawork to innovative use of music. Too bad you couldn't like it more. This movie is in my top 10 and it actually made me say: "Hey, I really want to make a film like this one!"

[–] Mikeboy0001 12 years ago

You are right, there is a lot to appreciate in this film, but I would like it to be more than an appreciation flick.
Raging Bull, for instance, is a movie where you can appreciate all those things you've mentioned, the Director's touch, and still have a great and powerfull movie, and I'm not refering to the fight scenes
The movie couldn't be longer because it doesn't have enough dialogue and story to support it, and to me, it should be made shorter because of this
A good example is the fight scene, where it goes on for too long, without ever getting somewhere
I don't mind watching long scenes, in fact I love them, but there must always be something happening in throughout, be it a monologue, landscape, Director's and Cinematographers cam at work or be i just music, something.
Here, there are a few moments where in those long scenes, nothing is happening, and that, in my opinion, hurts the pace of the movie.
But again, it's a good movie, but it could have been much better made in editing

[–] The_White_Hotel 12 years ago

I don't bother watching long scenes, in fact I love them, but there must always be something happening in throughout, be it a monologue, landscape, Director's and Cinematographers cam at work or be i just music, something.

I'm not exactly sure what point you are making here (I don't know if you don't bother watching long sccenes or if you love them) but the fight scene in Mean Streets is practically legendary for the way it is recorded. The long, single camera, unbroken sequence that starts it off is incredibly impressive and must have been so hard to film. It's a really fantastic example of Scorsese's early skill with a camera and promise as a director. Taking that out of the film would be a startling omission.

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

[–] Mikeboy0001 12 years ago

....and corrected english in edit, I meant "I don't mind" love long scenes, except when they slow the overall pace of the movie
I don't think the fight should have been taken out, I think it should have been made shorter, along with some other scenes.
I don't want to take any merith from Scorsese's abilities when he was so young, but I must judge the movie by it's own, and that's how it should be.
It's a very good movie, and with some polished edges it would be great
If you like unbroken sequences, watch Hitchcock's, Rope, or "Russkiy Kovcheg" with a single sequence from start to finish

[–] The_White_Hotel 12 years ago

I've seen Rope many times, brilliant movie and extra fun in spotting where Hitch hides his cuts when the reel needs changing!

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