this film should cement in anyone mind why martin scorcese be one of the best director of all time . the greatness be apparent right out of the gate with his very first feature film while all the classic scorsese element be already firmly in place and even if the film be not quite as compelling a later work . it wouldn not be long before scorsese could spin a plot that be up to the par of his technical skill while mean street ( 1973 ) be in the same league a late effort like taxi driver and goodfellas and and it a great showcase for a much young de niro ( who be on point right from the start of his relationship with ol marty ) . similarly and harvey keitel delivers powerfully in his first collaboration with scorsese and but the plot and dramatic impact of the script be just not quite up to snuff yet . but it not bad in those department by any mean and and in term of the photography and dialog and and act and as well a some very memorable isolate scene and it all classic scorsese and bear his unmistakable stylistic fingerprint .