Mean Streets 1973

Vincent Canby, New York Times: No matter how bleak the milieu, no matter how heartbreaking the narrative, some films are so thoroughly, beautifully realized they have a kind of tonic effect that has no relation to the subject matter. Read more

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader: The acting and editing have such an original, tumultuous force that the picture is completely gripping. Read more

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: Its greatness lies in its leanness, with nary a word, a move, a gesture that's nonessential. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: In countless ways, right down to the detail of modern TV crime shows, Mean Streets is one of the source points of modern movies. Read more

Time Out: One of the best American films of the decade. Read more

Variety Staff, Variety: Scorsese is exceptionally good at guiding his largely unknown cast to near-flawless recreations of types. Outstanding in this regard is De Niro. Read more