Mean street analysis - Movie Review Example

Mean Streets Mean streets is an American crime movie produced and directed by Martin Scorsese. Scorsese wrote thescript play in collaboration with Mardik Martin. Staring in the movie are Hollywood stars Harvey Keitel and Robert De Niro. Warner Bros released the film in October 1973 and, it earned a selection in the US National Film Registry for been the best cultural and aesthetic film of the century (Martin, & Scorsese, 1973). This paper gives a review of the movie mean streets, through an analysis of its plot, themes and cinematography techniques.

The film focuses on dreams or ambitions that thrive in conflicts and tribulations. Throughout the movie, a young man named Charlie is torn between Catholicism and his Mafia aspirations. Charlie works for his uncle as a debt collector. Although Charlie is exposed to street life, he is not completely separated from reality. The movie is set on an urban setting depicting Little Italy (Greco, 2009). In addition, the characters emulate the lives of ordinary people who lived in the town. Charlie has a secrete affair with Teresa Johnny Boy’s cousin who was epileptic.

The conflict in the film begins at a local bar when a loan shark (Michael) comes looking for Johnny requiring him to pay his debt. Unexpectedly, Johnny insults Michael provoking a scuffle between them. Johnny pulls out a gun for his own safety. Following the incident, Johnny and Michael decides to leave town together with Teresa. However, Michael and his crew engage them in a car chase as they continuously shoot at their car. The filmmaker incorporates tragedy and humor to create classic film of all times.

Characters play a significant role in the development of a film. Through the characters, a filmmaker is able to create the desirable plot and themes. In the film, “Mean Streets” the characters play both roles. Reality of characters is also a significant factor in the development of either of the roles (Taplin, & Scorsese, 1973). Although real characters are not applicable in most film, the audience is interested in the degree of realism in a film. Throughout the film, the filmmaker has a keen interest in maintaining reality of the characters.

For instance the characters are, bothered by things that bother people in real life such as love, hate, desires and agony. This aspect makes the characters believable and hence appealing to the audience. For instance, Charlie is a religious person despite having ties with the mafia. The filmmaker has a keen interest on the thematic aspects of the film and its Impacts on the audience. The film is based on the theme of conflict whereby the actors are torn between conflicting lifestyles or desires.

For instance, Charlie is torn between crime and morals. The theme illustrates the dilemma of making choice between good life and thug life. Other secondary themes that stand out in the film include violence, revenge, criminal minds, religion, and love. The aspect of symbolism stands out in the film. Firstly, the title of the film is a symbolism that represents the harsh life in American streets. The film director depicts the difficulties experienced by city dwellers as they try to make ends meet in the unproductive streets.

The film director enhances the themes in the film through effective cinematography techniques. Cinematography techniques such as color, texture, and lighting movements enable the filmmaker to present an ideal American violence movie. In addition, the use of rugged background enables the film director to depict a scene in the 1970s. The most outstanding cinematic technique applied by Scorsese in Mean Streets, is developing a heightened sense of awareness for the scenes where Charlie is reflecting on his problems (Martin, & Scorsese, 1973).

The, gliding slow motion sequences, moving camera and narration combines to develop an idea that Charlie cannot deter himself from crime thus, he is in a continuous search of liberation. Although the filmmaker is concerned with the entertainment element of the film, the film has a concrete moral message. The moral message depicted by the film is the role of conflicts in the society. Scorsese focuses on religious conflict and its effect on the society. His creation of Charlie as a person, who is torn between morals and crime, is an indication of the dilemma facing the modern society.

The film maintains the argument that conflicts are essential for improvements. In conclusion, the film focuses on the life of Charlie as he struggles in a world full of conflicts. Scorsese uses the film to create a story and life in little Italy through effective cinematography techniques. The main characters of the film include Charlie, Teresa, Michael, and Johnny. Each of the character has special character traits, which the film director uses in the development of his themes and plot. Works Cited Martin, M.

(Producer), & Scorsese, M. (Director). (1973). Mean Streets. [Motion picture]: United States: Warner Bros. Greco, J. (2009). [Review of the film mean streets]. Twenty-four frames. Retrieved October 18, 2012, retrieved from http://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/2009/11/15/mean-streets-1973-martin-scorsese/ Taplin, J. T. (Producer) & Scorsese, M. (Director). (1973). Mean Streets [Motion pictures]. United States: Warner Bros.