Mean Streets (1973)

Mean Streets
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Written by Martin Scorsese and Matdik Martin
1973/US
IMDb page
Repeat viewing/Amazon Prime rental
One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

Charlie: Don’t be smart, Johnny.
Johnny Boy: What do you mean? I ain’t smart. I’m stupid. Remember? I’m so stupid you gotta look out for me. Right? Right?

Martin Scorsese comes into his own by going back to his roots.

The story is set in New York City in the mid-1960’s.  Charlie (Harvey Keitel) is a debt collector for his uncle.  He knows how to survive on the mean streets of Little Italy yet is haunted by his Catholic indocrination.  He gets along well with the uncle who wants to set him up in his own restaurant.

His best friend is the unhinged, possibly psychopathic, Johnny Boy (Robert De Niro).  He owes money to everybody dumb enough to give him a loan.  He owes $1800 plus interest to tough guy Michael Longo.  Michael begins to feel like he is being played for a chump and is counting on Charlie to get his money for him.

Charlie gets mixed up in this mess partly out of friendship for Johnny Boy and partly because of his his intimate relationship with Teresa (Amy Richardson), Johnny Boy’s cousin.  As the story goes on Johnny Boy becomes more and more erratic and starts fooling around with guns.  But Charlie can’t seem to abandon him.  Let’s just say none of this is going to end well.

There are some amazing complex shots and sequences in this movie that show Scorsese’s assured mastery over filmmaking.  Add to some fine acting – this was De Niro’s first collaboration with the director – and fabulous production values.  The movie contains Scorsese’s signature oldies score, and his themes around Catholicism and machismo.  Not Scorsese’s best film by any means but nevertheless recommended.

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This may be the last 1001 List film I watch for 1973.  One time with The Exorcist was enough for me.  I am really sad I can’t find Sleeper anywhere except for purchase in DVD Region 2 editions.  Based on descriptions, I’m skipping The Mother and the Whore, Turkish Delight and Pat Garret and Billy the Kid unless I get some reader recommendations to change my mind. I’m on the last lap of 1973 which will  “end” on January 15.