Some directors like to look to their own lives, or to their hometowns, for material for their films. And few are more prolific at it than Martin Scorsese (New York) and Barry Levinson (Baltimore). Come to think of it, we could have stayed in Baltimore and covered Levinson and John Waters. Missed opportunity, dangit.
At any rate, we open the episode with a look at Scorsese’s MEAN STREETS (1973), which Scorsese also co-wrote. It’s an episodic look at some folks in New York who may not entirely be on the up-and-up. Scorsese didn’t yet have the clout to get enough budget to shoot in New York City, but Los Angeles makes for a fine stand-in this time around.
From there we move to Levinson’s DINER (1984), a film that didn’t tear up the box office but it was a critical darling and has been cited by many people as a huge influence on their own work. And lucky for you (or for him), Claude gets to flex some of his Baltimore geography skills.
COMING ATTRACTIONS:Â
Next time we’ll be doing a follow-up to Reel 12, with more Backstage Drama, with a slight twist. We’ll start with TOPSY TURVY (1999) and move on to THE CLOUDS OF SILLS MARIA (2014). Join us, won’t you?