Product: Mean Streets (1973)
Rating: 5.0
Scorsese, the Master
What can be said about a filmaker who has basically won the accolades of everyone (sans the Oscar, which is soon to come with the release of Gangs of New York), including fans and critics alike. This little "slice of Italian pie" from the early 70s is perhaps one of the greatest films in cinema history. Scorsese is at his best here--authentic and insightful, and his direction of his very talented actors is fabulous. DeNiro's and Keitel's talents for improvisation within semi-structured scenes are unmatched. Mean Streets is raw, dark, powerful, poetic, and just downright..."street." It is the primer for much-loved films and TV series (Pope of Greenwich Village, Hill Street Blues, NYPD Blue, etc.) and it just sparkles with raw, uninhibited, and well-directed talent. This is a must-see, must-own piece of cinema for the film lover.