Mean Streets (1973)
Even accounting for some impressionistic French New Wave influence, the film is still a little shoddy as story -- De Niro's performance is indeed great, but his character's agitator function clangs and grows a bit tiresome in this loose storytelling context. It is casually astonishing as a directorial showcase though, so sensual and vivid in fusing various cinematic influences and techniques (so many tracking shots!) to capture Scorsese's own childhood memories and his still-present thematic hangups. That tracking shot on drunk Keitel, bathed in the bar's red glow, really signals a unique talent fueled by youthful verve; even with occasional bumps it's intoxicating to watch a whole film thrums with such energy. 7/10
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
“What the hell did they expect for their lousy 35 cents, to live forever?”
Incredible snapshot of 70's NYC wrapped around a rollickin' thriller. Every inch of the film and characters are invested with such specific inner lives and texture, down to even the crowd ("Booooo!") and brief bit players (that old woman who was dead drunk throughout the whole thing -- legendary), that it elevates the thrills so much with that hostile NYC realism and vibe. Even the racism and sexism feel so realistically portrayed of its specific time without crossing the line into egged on or malicious on the film's part. All cinched with one of the great final shots, glorious in its abrupt cut to black. 8.5/10