MovieChat Forums > Mean Streets (1973) Discussion > Can someone explain the mechanics of the...

Can someone explain the mechanics of the final shooting?

posted 13 years ago by move_over_fatso
6 replies | jump to latest

Basically, Charlie drives into Brooklyn, allegedly to hide out, and yet somehow the loan shark and his enforcer manages to find their car and shoot Johnny Boy. Even presuming that Michael got info from the bar owner that Johnny Boy was in his car, its unlikely Michael is going to be able to hunt that car down in all of NYC. I have to think the hit was prearranged.

Supposedly, the only person who knew where they were headed was Charlie. But even if it was pre-arranged to take out Johnny-Boy if he didn't deliver, I can't believe Charlie would agree to be in the line of fire when the hit went down. Was it possible that Michael had been following the car the entire time? If so, wouldn't it makes more sense to whack JB at the apartment building or the destination, rather than in a moving car?

So how did all this come about? What did I miss? Is this the most ridiculous plot hole in the movie?

[–] FattyBoombilatti 13 years ago

The most logical explanation, and the one I go with is , Michael was following them at a distance.
Charlie would not have put himself in the line of fire. He especially wouldn't of put Teresa there as well.

[–] DracTarashV 13 years ago

Charlie would never do something like that to Johnny Boy. I never even thought of that, once.

As the previous post said, it's most likely he was following them from a distance -- that's what I've always believed. Maybe they were outside the bar somewhere, waiting for Johnny Boy.

This never seemed like a big mystery or possible plot hole to me.

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[–] move_over_fatso 13 years ago

It is a plot hole, because they stopped in (I think) Teresa's apartment. If Michael was following them from the bar, it would have made MUCH more sense to ambush them in front of their parked car, RATHER than trying to shoot them with both cars moving.

I'm inclined to think that Michael needed time to get his hitman, and that they weren't following the car out of the bar. Which means they must have had an idea where Charlie was running to.

[–] steveignorantcrass 12 years ago

Michael showed up with someone; had him wait outside. Johnny Boy pulls the gun on him, and he leaves. He gets in the car with his boy (Scorsese) and they wait. Charlie borrows the car and gets Johnny Boy. Michael follows them to Teresa's apartment and waits for her to hook up with them, then waits until they're on a straightaway to pull up alongside and let Scorsese's character blow a hole in Johnny's neck.

Not a plot hole whatsoever, it's easily explained with a minimal amount of thought. I think you should study film on at least a basic level before you start declaring plotholes, that's a serious criticism that you need to back up to be taken seriously.

[–] Eponymous-too 12 years ago

It's just bad writing. This was a low budget, quickie film being done by a man still figuring out his skills as a writer/director. He didn't have the money or the opportunity to correct that parts that were lacking.

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[–] rfmovie 12 years ago

I disagree, I do think the movie tried to show that whatever the nice guy was thinking was going to save Johnny Boy was naive, that these guys were waiting until the car began moving, then they would whack Johnny Boy when the chance came. Instead, the loan shark likely got impatient and angry and said, "let's just get him here" on the empty bridge. I mean after all, they have places to be and women to do...

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