A small-time hood tries to keep the peace between his friend Johnny and Johnny's creditors.A small-time hood tries to keep the peace between his friend Johnny and Johnny's creditors.A small-time hood tries to keep the peace between his friend Johnny and Johnny's creditors.
- Director
- Writers
- Martin Scorsese(screenplay)
- Mardik Martin(screenplay)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Martin Scorsese(screenplay)
- Mardik Martin(screenplay)
- Stars
- Awards
- 5 wins & 5 nominations
Videos4
Victor Argo
- Marioas Mario
- (as Vic Argo, Victor Argo)
Murray Moston
- Oscaras Oscar
- (as Murray Mosten)
- Director
- Writers
- Martin Scorsese(screenplay) (story)
- Mardik Martin(screenplay)
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
- All cast & crew
Storyline
The future is set for Tony and Michael -- owning a neighborhood bar and making deals in the mean streets of New York City's Little Italy. For Charlie, the future is less clearly defined. A small-time hood, he works for his uncle, making collections and reclaiming bad debts. In love with a woman of whom his uncle disapproves (due to her epilepsy) and a friend of her disturbed cousin, Johnny Boy, a near psychotic whose trouble-making threatens them all -- Charlie just cannot reconcile opposing values. A failed attempt to escape (to Brooklyn) moves them all a step closer to a bitter, almost preordained future. —Dave Cook <cookd@mcmail.cis.mcmaster.ca>
- Taglines
- Welcome...but don't break the rules!
- Genres
- Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- R
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaFrancis Ford Coppola contributed money to the budget of the film.
- GoofsThe end credits on the DVD incorrectly list David Carradine as "Oscar" and Robert Carradine as "Drunk".
- Quotes
Martin Scorsese: You don't make up for your sins in church. You do it in the streets. You do it at home. The rest is bullshit and you know it.
- Alternate versionsNBC edited 10 minutes from this film for its 1977 network television premiere.
- ConnectionsEdited into American Cinema: Film Noir (1995)
- SoundtracksJumpin' Jack Flash
Written by Mick Jagger (as M. Jagger), Keith Richards (as K. Richards) (uncredited)
By The Rolling Stones
Courtesy of ABKCO Records
Top review
Rough and ready by comparison with later work but still engaging, stylish, energetic and roundly well delivered
Charlie may be small time but the authority and standing of his Uncle Giovanni in the community of Little Italy offers him the chance to become more than just a local hustler. One of the things he should be careful of is the company he keeps and who he stands with. Unfortunately Charlie is very protective of his cousin Johnny Boy, who seems determined to borrow as much money as possible, gamble it away and not pay it back and also in a relationship with Johnny's relation Teresa. While the fun and energy of the street life continues, dark consequences of all these things threaten Charlie and those around him.
It has been years since I saw this film and I noticed that I had last watched it before I started reviewing. As a result I watched it again yesterday to refresh my memory. Seeing it with older eyes is an impressive experience because I appreciate what Scorsese has gone on to do and found it fascinating to look back on this, one of his earliest films. The plot is a mash of characters and events that come together to create a sense of place that is convincingly done; the overall narrative focuses on Charlie, in particular where his relationships are taking him but this aspect ebbs and flows with the events. It is funny, violent, personal and engaging, only a few aspects come over as weak. The script flows like real dialogue, producing the different moods of each scene and also being memorable and rough.
The style and direction of the film are impressive and it is interesting to see the influence Scorsese had with this and his other films. The techniques employed here will ring bells with anyone who watches modern cinema and television with more than a passing interest, Sopranos in particular owes him a debt. Here we have the slow-motions, chest-mounted camera (I'm sure there is a proper name for it), impressive use of music and so on that we have come to be used to with Scorsese and one cannot help be impressed by how well developed these ideas were at an early stage in his career. Of course along with stylistic constants, several of the cast would become regulars. Keitel is the heart of the film for me and, although his opportunities in the script are surprisingly limited, I felt he did well with the themes handed to him. De Niro of course catches the eye more because of what was to come but also because he has the more energetic character. Robinson didn't make much of an impression on me but the support cast features early turns from faces such as Proval, Romanus, Argo and others.
Mean Streets might be a bit rough and ready when placed next to the polished films that Scorsese would go on to do but it does not take away from its strengths to look back at it. So much of Scorsese's style and calling cards are in place even at this early stage and his film convincingly creates the streets and characters of the place. The main players involved have done better films since this one but it is still strong, stylish and interesting and definitely worth a look for anyone who has since any other Scorsese films.
It has been years since I saw this film and I noticed that I had last watched it before I started reviewing. As a result I watched it again yesterday to refresh my memory. Seeing it with older eyes is an impressive experience because I appreciate what Scorsese has gone on to do and found it fascinating to look back on this, one of his earliest films. The plot is a mash of characters and events that come together to create a sense of place that is convincingly done; the overall narrative focuses on Charlie, in particular where his relationships are taking him but this aspect ebbs and flows with the events. It is funny, violent, personal and engaging, only a few aspects come over as weak. The script flows like real dialogue, producing the different moods of each scene and also being memorable and rough.
The style and direction of the film are impressive and it is interesting to see the influence Scorsese had with this and his other films. The techniques employed here will ring bells with anyone who watches modern cinema and television with more than a passing interest, Sopranos in particular owes him a debt. Here we have the slow-motions, chest-mounted camera (I'm sure there is a proper name for it), impressive use of music and so on that we have come to be used to with Scorsese and one cannot help be impressed by how well developed these ideas were at an early stage in his career. Of course along with stylistic constants, several of the cast would become regulars. Keitel is the heart of the film for me and, although his opportunities in the script are surprisingly limited, I felt he did well with the themes handed to him. De Niro of course catches the eye more because of what was to come but also because he has the more energetic character. Robinson didn't make much of an impression on me but the support cast features early turns from faces such as Proval, Romanus, Argo and others.
Mean Streets might be a bit rough and ready when placed next to the polished films that Scorsese would go on to do but it does not take away from its strengths to look back at it. So much of Scorsese's style and calling cards are in place even at this early stage and his film convincingly creates the streets and characters of the place. The main players involved have done better films since this one but it is still strong, stylish and interesting and definitely worth a look for anyone who has since any other Scorsese films.
helpful•91
- bob the moo
- May 25, 2008
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Season of the Witch
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $500,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $32,645
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $32,645
- Mar 15, 1998
- Gross worldwide
- $41,131
- Runtime1 hour 52 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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