What makes this a Scorsese film, and not merely a retread, is the director's use of actors, locations and energy, and its buried theme. I am fond of saying that a movie is not about what it's about; it's about how it's about it.
This was a great movie in that it worked so well on many levels so plainly....from intense story telling and plot development some of the time to humorous moments in others. Everything seemed to flow rather well.
I totally agree with Ebert here. Halfway through, it got me thinking about those hidden meanings and trying to place opinions in there. You don't really want to know who is the good guy and who is the bad guy, it's just kind of excellent because you've got no idea where it's going. Scorsese nails it once again, might have been one of those 'interesting but lame' films with any other director, but Marty makes it fucking SHINE!
Paul Crawford
Dec 22 - 01:40 AM