This is yet another film that’s been on my watch list for quite a while that I finally decided to watch so I could use it for my midterm. It’s no doubt a low budget film, but the directing and cinematography pull it up to another level. This film is very much an artifact of its time… it is by no regard special or especially captivating by today’s standards. But if you’re into to character studies and 1970s New York like me, you’re going to find it enjoyable. Throughout the film I was surprised by the use of many film techniques that seem to be modern inventions, such as the use of the Snorricam, a pop music soundtrack, and harsh colored lighting. The story is very average… it wasn’t too boring but it wasn’t anything special. The movie seemed kinda like a ‘day in the life’ of low level criminals. I really, really enjoyed the soundtrack. It was a mix of 60s pop music and Italian opera music. Apparently this film normalized the use of pop music in cinema, so that’s pretty cool I guess. I would say half of the movie takes place in this club that’s lit by completely red lights, and as someone who’s favorite color is red, made the film very aesthetically pleasing. I’ve heard people say the acting in this film is one of its highlights. Maybe I’m overly skeptical but this acting wasn’t anything special. It didn’t bother me too much though because I wasn’t taking this film too seriously. I don’t think it takes itself too seriously either. That ‘fight’ scene towards the end was hilarious. Clearly nobody taught these guys how to throw a fake punch. And the dialogue is also just a bunch of ad libbed cuss words. Also there’s a ton of religious imagery and themes in this film, but I don’t feel like getting into that again as I discussed those themes in both my Raging Bull and Goodfellas posts. Anyways, these early Scorsese movies have a certain charm to them. I don’t know if I’ll ever be rewatching Mean Streets, but I’m glad I did.
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May Featured Movie QuoteBarry B. Benson: Yellow-black, yellow-black, yellow-black, yellow-black... Oh, black and yellow. Yeah, let's shake it up a little.
Yeah, I have letterboxd now
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