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Mean Streets is an american film set on the 'Mean Streets' of Little Italy in New York. The film was made in 1973 by Warner Brothers and was directed by Martin Scorsese. It's stars include a young Harvey Keitel and an even younger Robert De Niro. It's budget was $500,000 but at the time of release only made a $32,000 gross.

The basic plot focus' on two friends, Charlie and Johnny Boy, and their struggles on the streets of New York. Charlie is young , ambitious and wanting to move up the ladder in regards to the New York Mafia. Johnny Boy on the other hand is a small-time gambler who owes a lot of money to a lot of people. Charlie is stuck between his catholic views and his want to become part of the New York Mafia in the 70's. Johnny Boy slowly goes on a downward spiral in terms of his destructive behavior and attitude to people at a higher status than him. After a bust up with one of New York's biggest loan sharks Charlie, Johnny Boy and Johnny Boy's cousin Teresa (who is also having a secret affair with Charlie) decide to stage a get away in which they end up in a car accident due to being shot at by the loan shark's henchmen. The final shot pans out on the accident with police and ambulance rushing in to the characters aid.

Mean Streets was the film that really launched Scorsese into the film industry. After the fail and badly critisised first film 'Who's knocking at my door', Scorsese decided to direct and write a film based on his upbringings and his personal experiences. He was given complete free reign. The film was well received by most critics with some calling it one of the most original american films of its times.

Although this film wouldn't be something I normally would choose, I enjoyed seeing some of Scorsese's earliest work as well as a film that was released just as cinema was changing in the early 70's. The storyline was both interesting and intriguing and I liked how Charlie was torn between Religion and his safety and status on the streets of 70's New York. I also thought it was clever and effective how at times the audience could hear Charlies thoughts when the character in the scene couldn't. By breaking the forth wall it made me feel as if Charlie was confiding in me and he wanted to share things with you that he couldn't say out loud.