To Think It Took Me This Long To See "Mean Streets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                          I was a tender 20 when this came came out, so why it was not on my radar I cannot remember.

                                          But seeing it now will provide lots of surprises. Imagine, seeing Harvey Keitel and Robert DeNiro so young!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            This was the film that put Martin Scorsese on the map, and deservedly so. Shot as a night in the big city of New York, it is laced with carefully selected lighting, violence and two star making performances from Keitel and DeNiro.  "Mean Streets" has no real conventional narrative, outside of these thugs going after everyone in sight for either drugs or money.  This could have been nothing.  But Scorsese's camera placement, his carefully lit night shots and the almost documentary feel to the film raise it above the level of an ordinary gangster pic.   Looking back, I asked myself, "The man who directed 'The Age Of Innocence' directed this?"  It seems inconceivable.

                                                For Scorsese fans, especially those who like me who have never seen it, "Mean Streets" is a must.  It will take you back to the director's roots and will allow viewers to see how he has evolved.  And how the city of New York has, too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   "Mean Streets" will grip the viewer from start to finish!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   And eat some pasta bolognese afterward!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What The Hell Is "Svengoolie" Showing This Week???????????? My Advice, Girls, Is To Avoid It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            Who the hell is Captain Kronos?  I know this is a Hammer film, and even though the poster suggests a showcase of bosoms, I am not sure I want to watch a film I never heard of.

                            So, Baby Gojira and I have a real gem planned instead, but, unfortunately, David does not like this particular film.  But then, about a week ago, he had the temerity to say he thought "Meet Me In St. Louis" was too long.  Can you imagine?  A film of perfection?

                            I mean, even Baby was appalled.  So, we have picked out a special film, which I will try and write about tomorrow.  For those who choose to watch this, let me know what it was like.

                              To me, it looks like some ersatz "Brides Of Dracula" knockoff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Victorian Welcome To August!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      Yes, darlings, here we are at the start of the year's most ambivalent month.

                                        As a child, I hated this day, because it meant the next month was September and that meant going back to school.  I still have that feeling, though I have been out of school for decades.

                                         August signals not only the last full month of Summer, but that Labor Day and Autumn are getting closer.  And the sunshine we have enjoyed will decrease and darkness will surround us.

                                           As Little Edie sang in the musical "Grey Gardens," "Another Winter In A Summer Town."

                                           That is what August means to me.  But it also has the Feast Of The Assumption, the anniversary of Woodstock, and Baby Gojira's birthday.  He will be 22 this year, but he is still our baby.

                                              And I get another month of movies to see and write about.  And books!

                                              So maybe August is not so bad after all.

                                              It is the anticipation more than the actuality!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!