I've finally seen it
I thought it was very good. The night after I saw Mobsters on TV the one with Christian Slater, I thought that was good too, the Meyer Lansky/ Lucky Luciano story.
I'll be getting spoilt at this rate

FH

"Mean Streets" is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece: Keitel's greatest role, DeNiro's second-greatest after "Raging Bull." Unique plot. Glad you liked it.
"Mobsters" was ok as far as it went, imhop, but I thought it was a little forced. The Lansky character seemed more assertive than he was in real life.

have'nt seen Mean Streets. anyone knew how much is this in DVD? this type of titles are not available in rental shops and in the market here . . . grazie!

GoodFella

I bought mine from Bestbuy for 15 dollars.

I got a surprise at the end of Mobsters, not knowing much about the old time gangsters.
Meyer Lansky died peacefully and very old, in his bed, having spent not one day in jail. He was also one of the richest men in America!!!!!
Back to meanstreets, I might buy my own copy now I know it's so good. I loaned the copy I saw.
FH

thanks Don P! any special features?

GoodFella

It only has Production notes and Theatrical trailer(s).Hopefully there will be a special edition.

ok. just like the other mobster movies with no special features. GoodFellas, Casino, Untouchables, Raging Bull. . .
grazie M4M!

GoodFella

Yes, Lansky was 81 or 82 when he died peacefully. He did go to jail on a trumped-up gambling charge for a few months in the early '50's, which was the reason Israel turned down his request for citizenship in the '70s. According to his biographer, Robert Lacey, Lansky was never super-rich, and probably died broke or near-broke. Lacey says that the reason he lived long and died peacefully was that he was never rich or powerful enough to invoke any jealousy from the Mob guys he counseled: "He was the accountant, not the boss."

Mean Streets' importance is in showing life at the bottom of La Cosa Nostra. We can probably assume that Uncle Giovanni is a Capo.

He represents a very traditional made guy in his
references to "honourable men go with honourable men."

What I'd like to know is if Michael(Richard Romanus) is kicking money up the line for his activities? I imagine that despite the fact that he has a few guys following him that he is only an associate and that he kicks money upstairs to a 'made' soldier, who in turn kicks up to Giovanni or another capo.

Is this why Michael is careful to keep his distance from Giovanni when he is talking to Charlie - because he would be expected to keep a respectful distance from an old school capo?

I would appreciate our expert's guidance on this.

Very interesting question, Wiseguy! I thought all along that Michael had no connection at all with Giovanni because, in the scene near the end where Charlie is sitting with Giovanni and Michael gestures for Charlie to come outside, Giovanni doesn't seem to know Michael: "Who is he? Doesn't he see we are talking?" But then, Michael knew Giovanni was a neighborhood Mafia power, and that Charlie was his nephew. So I have to figure Michael needed Giovanni's permission to attack Charlie, Theresa (her family were campari with Giovanni) and Johnny Boy. What's more, the attack was over Johnny Boy owing Michael three or four grand. SO... if Michael asked Giovanni's permission to attack, and if Giovanni said yes, then it's likely Giovanni's self interest was that Michael was kicking loanshark money to him.
By the way: you may have noticed that Richard Romanus occasionally appears on "Sopranos" as Dr. Melfi's ex-husband. David Proval, who played roly-poly, lovable Tony in "Mean Streets," did an absolutely brilliant job as Richie Aprille on "Sopranos" a couple of seasons back.

Thanks - Turnball - I never knew that was Richard Romanus!!!!!!!!!!

God he's changed a bit.

I knew about David Proval who I think was excellent as Richie Aprile.

It's weird because in Mean Streets you have the impression that he is the tallest of the four main characters and in various reviews is described as "the big friendly one."

But in The Sopranos I think Junior and Bobby Baccaleri keep going on about how he has a lot of balls for such a little guy(or something like that)!!!

Back to the original query I know Giovanni asks Charlie what Michael wants in the coffee shop scene, but I'm pretty sure that he knew who Michael was. I would have thought that he needed Giovanni's permission to hit Charlie, albeit via the channel of a made 'soldier'. However, Michael is a loose cannon and is so angry with Johnny making jerk off out of him that he will do anything.

This is all specualtion really - we need to keep thinking on this one.

Thanks for the info.