"Mean Streets"
- Lopez - his mother abused him and his siblings, and kept them under control with an ironclad fist"...
Submitted by FFE on 07/10/2008 11:53 PM
- Category: History Other
- Words: 709
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"Mean Streets"
"Mean Streets"
The 1973 Scorces classic Mean Streets is a fine example of social determination. This is a story about a young man, Charlie, who grows up in New York's Little Italy. We see and understand the conflict that he faces and witness how he deals with it. Scorcese again uses the soundtrack is to highlight and make even more vivid what is transpiring before our eyes. While the action is as meaningless and as wild as any Hollywood film its own unique style makes it ever so more entertaining and memorable.
We see Harvey Keitel's character traped in his neighborhood collecting for his uncle. Keitel's portrayal of Charlie as a cool and very even-tempered young man is wonderful. "Johnny Boy" played brilliantly by Robert DeNiro is the wild and out of control' who is ready to create chaos anywhere he goes. Charlie being a good friend is determined to help and save Johnny's neck whose irrational and ill tempered. Johnny is a hotheaded stereotypical "Italian". He owes money to everyone and makes little effort to pay everyone that he owes. Charlie on the other hand is very straight and helps watch over Johnny Boy' while he struggles with his own issues. We sense that he has a feeling of guilt prompted by his lifestyle. Charlie is in love with Teresa who lives in his neighborhood. However, his uncle disapproves of immensely because of her epilepsy. His uncle's feelings for Johnny Boy aren't good either. This only feeds Charlie's inner conflict because he cannot be associated with them if he is to move ahead.
Scorsese just doesn't just set up the scene with the dim lighting, red and dark colors to accentuate the images and feelings. His use of music in the scenes depicts the mood as well as the setting of the film. The use of a rock n' roll on the film's soundtrack is perfectly integrated with what is on screen. When the characters are cruising in the car the Doo Wop' music kicks in which is very signatory to...
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