Review of Mean Streets

Going back and watching Mean Streets today it's little wonder that Scorsese has evolved into the great and iconic director that he is today. This film reveals glimpses of so many of the stylistic touches that have made Scorsese a one of a kind director. His use of space, music, and lighting, and the absolute diliberateness in which he uses the camera to evoke mood, energy, and emotion are all here. It is only the pacing and the story construction that weigh this film down and that make this early Scorsese effort a somewhat forgetable one. Mean Streets is not as poetic and spell-binding as Taxi Driver, nor is it as timeless and haunting as GoodFellas. In fact, it is no where close to either of these films in terms of greatness. (Though the first ten minutes, and the final 20 minutes of the film are very good.) Throughout most of the movie the stakes are simply not high enough for the viewer to truly get involved. At points it feels too "slice of life". We sense that Scorsese has an important story to tell here, but he meanders too much in the telling. Some very captivating performances from De Niro and Keitel elevate the story at points, and they must have been a real feast for movie goers at the time of this film's release, but they just aren't enough to mesmerize modern audiences (viewers who by now know the magnitude of talent in these two) Fans of Scorsese's work should definately go back and watch this one, but there's no immediate, compelling reason for the casual movie lover to worry about missing it.