Product: Mean Streets (1973)
Rating: 3.0
Several story lines running concurrently in Italian barrio
Mean Streets (1973) is an ambitious project, for which a lot offilming talent, energy and acting talent was expended. To a certaindegree, it comes up short in architectural aspects (the story) andis somewhat unfocused in terms of what it's about.There's several story lines running concurrently: a story about themob (revolving around Harvey Keitel's character and his uncle, witha night club, loan sharking, a collector of illegal debts), a storyof a total fool, (a character played by De Niro), and also that ofa nostalgic recounting of young men exploring the limits of nightentertainment, bearing in mind cultural, social and religiouslimitations. Brawls, drinking, profanity, confrontations occur.The entertainment value as well as the time expended (2 hours) isquestionable, in terms of exposing a compulsive gambler, who isirrational, heavily indebted, and wreckless, defined as a mook.Further, over 2/3 of the soundtrack is with the Supremes, from theBeatlemania era, thereby dating the move. The music works andhelps enhance it's American-ism and counter its ethnocentrism.Conversely, the mixture of reminescing about one's youth, pals,nightclubs, and antics in between a backdrop of the mob andnightlife is valid for many.The film is deep with Italian American aspects, such as the SanGennaro parade in Manhattan in the 2nd week of September,neighborhood clubs, restaurants, pool halls and venues that thelocals cherish, characterizing individuals who don't adhere to thestraight-and-narrow. It shows some controversial moments as theethnic Italians judge, and filter anything and everything that isnot from their close-knit neighbood, such as people and businessrelations, with their own value system.The presentation is wide-screen, with subtitles, with a very goodfilming quality, considering the numerous night and indoors scenes.The film suggests a habit of the street being the rightplace toacquire cheap commodities, either smuggled or obtained throughsome other means, such as tobacco, narco substances, etc.Loan sharking, the misery of debtors and the actions of thecollectors of illegal debts, culminating in shootings, is laid outin plain view. Keitel's character, and others, are well aware ofsocial etiquette, and their own religious values when face-to-facewith fellow human beings, which is a challenging paradox to resolvein face of violence and daily stuggles.At no time does the budget or lack thereof, become noticeable overduration of the work.