Analysis of the Mean Streets Film by Martin Scorsese - Movie Review Example

?Insert Introduction The film Mean Streets was released in 1973, having been directed by Martin Scorsese and ed by MartinScorsese himself, and his college, Martin Mardik. The film has been a success, going by the fact that the Library of Congress included it in the US National Film Registry’s repository. The Library of Congress explained that the main reason for the inclusion of the film into the US National Film Registry’s gallery was the film’s cultural, historical and aesthetic significance. The film also won the National Society of Critics Award, and thereby underscoring its extent of success (Mean Streets, 1). Thesis statement Success in moviemaking demands the incorporation of a good plotline, believable characters and a socio-cultural strong theme, as is seen in the movie Mean Streets. Summary of the Plot Charlie is the protagonist in the film. He works for his uncle, Mr. Giovanni who is the head of a New York mafia gang. Charlie attempts to rise through the ranks of mafia organization, but his Catholic convictions and sense of responsibility towards his friend Johnny Boy dissuade him. Charlie is having a secret affair with Teresa, Johnny’s cousin who is ostracized because she is epileptic. Charlie attempts to secure redemption from the Catholic Church, unsuccessfully. He resorts to succoring Johnny as a way of realizing this redemption. Johnny goes to Michael’s bar, where Michael unsuccessfully coerces him into settling his debts. This leads to a brawl between the two. Later on, Michael and his henchmen trail the Johnny, Charlie and Teresa, engaging them into a drive-by shooting. Johnny is shot in the neck and Charlie who is also the driver, in the hand. This causes the car to crush. An ambulance arrives and its paramedics whisk away the three to a hospital (Mean Streets, 1). Dimensions and Criteria for Evaluating the Film Different dimensions can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of a movie. The four main dimensions include: the use of sound; composition of the movie; theatrical dimensions of the film image; and the dimensions between artistic traditions and the movie. The theatrical dimension which mainly factors the film image is well seen in the way Scorsese as the movie director uses lighting and its different entities. For example, at an instance, Giovanni as the leader of the New York Mafia gang is depicted against a dark background, in his secret rendezvous. Herein, Giovanni has a cigar in his hand, convincing Charlie to severe his association with his Johnny Boy, since honorable men hang with honorable men. This clearly helps the audience identify Giovanni as a villain and his rendezvous as a crime den. There are several criteria that are applicable in evaluating the film. The story, characters, direction and overall effectiveness of the film are some of the criteria that can be used to evaluate Mean Streets. Touching the criterion which is the storyline, Mean Streets is a success because the storyline has complete concomitance with the intent of the movie. It is obvious that the author intended to bring out the aspect of democratization of religion, in the movie. The movie’s storyline brings out this aspect successfully. Charlie is good-willed, despite the rut he finds himself in. The convictions he has for Catholicism is still deeply etched in his person and he resultantly seeks redemption in the Catholic Church, albeit unsuccessfully. He sacrifices himself for his friend Johnny to gain this redemption. The church’s act of turning down Charlie’s noble intent effectively brings out the failure of religion to democratize. This also serves as a clarion call for change. The characters remain believable throughout the movie. Cesare Danova as Giovanni possesses a serious mien which fits the role he plays as the local caporegime. Giovanni sits in his office well dressed and smoking a cigar. He tells Charlie that honorable men go with honorable men. This helps portray Giovanni as the ringleader of the mafia group. At the same time, the same depiction casts Giovanni as a cunning, well managed and well-to-do principal of a mafia gang. This depiction of Giovanni makes the role he is playing plausible since heads of mafia gangs are street-smart and moneyed. Likewise, Amy Robinson plays the role of the epileptic Teresa. Teresa appears forlorn and somewhat reserved to underscore the reality of being ostracized by the society because of epilepsy. The effectiveness of the cinema is also attributable to cinematography. For instance, the movie uses lighting and movement very dexterously to enhance the mood and the film’s setting. While Giovanni appears against a dimly lit room to give him the identity of an outlaw, Scorsese uses also, suspense to heighten the mood. In an instance, after Michael and Johnny ask themselves what a moose is, three seconds pass as the characters remain motionless, before the former leaps on the latter with a fisticuff. The film is also successful because of the way it addresses its audience. The audience is the larger society that comprises the public and the Church. The society is successfully and artistically called to positive change, in matters touching on encouraging personal reform and rehabilitation, fair treatment of the less privileged and the disabled and the democratization of socio-cultural institutions. Pros versus cons Just like any other human endeavor, the film has its pros and cons. The film for instance has served as a strong advocator for positive socio-cultural change. The failure of the Catholic Church is clearly depicted when it fails to help Charlie redeem himself, while the failure of the mainstream society is portrayed in the ostracizing of Teresa because she is epileptic. These incidences are not depicted as rebellious pieces, but to steer onwards, positive social change. Another merit that the movie enjoys is its aesthetical value. That Mean Streets had 98% Certified Fresh ratings on Rotten Tomatoes underscores the fact that many have found meaningful entertainment and catharsis in it. One of the demerits of the movie may be the portrayal of violence. At an instance, there is a brawl in a bar between Michael and his henchmen on one hand, and Johnny on the other. The culmination of the movie is a drive-by shooting by Michael and his henchmen, targeting Johnny, Teresa and Charlie. This movie being rated general is what may strengthen this concern, since children may not be mature enough for it. Conclusion In respect to the foregoing, it emerges clearly that Mean Streets is a success on several grounds. While the movie has artistically interwoven its plot and immense contribution of thespians such as John Civello, its main source of success is attributable to the manner in which it has tackled prevalent social problems such as ineffectiveness in social institutions and social stigma. This, the movie does to catalyze positive and meaningful change. Work Cited Mean Streets. (2011). In Mean Streets Blu-Ray Review. Retrieved From http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Mean-Streets-Blu-ray/20091/#Review Read More