There were once two boys who grew up in the ‘mean streets’ of New York, born one year and a few blocks apart. They weren’t from the poorest families but they were far from rich.
One of the boys was fully Italian, the other had an Italian father, and an Irish mother. Growing up, they saw ‘wiseguys’ and made men and gangsters in the street. They saw the gangs, even had friends who joined them... their early childhood was Goodfellas.
One of the friends was the son of an actress-turned-seamstress. The other was the son of a painter who had left his wife because he was gay — his mother had been an artist.
Not surprisingly, both kids inherited the ‘artistic gene’ from their parents and, from their fathers’ humble immigrant origins, a strong drive to make it in the world.
The two boys grew into men and went their separate ways. They met again in their twenties. The half-Irish one, the tallest and most handsome of the two, had gone to acting school and was now an actor known as Robert De Niro.
His friend, a creative fellow but too short for leading man status, was Martin Scorsese. Scorsese wanted to recreate the world they had grown up in and make it come to life for a young audience largely unfamiliar with it. Mean Streets. Taxi Driver. Raging Bull. The King of Comedy. Goodfellas.
Scorsese directed movies. De Niro acted in them. As it turned out, Scorsese was a damned fine director, and script writer. De Niro was a damn fine actor. They would come to define cinema in many ways, and put their mark on the genre of mafia films and organised crime drama like no one else before them, and no one else after.
We're excited to share that our sleek new website, Eastwood Web 3.0, is now live and kicking at https://t.co/kRGRv57jUr. We have big plans for 2024, and are actively seeking new planning gain and asset management opportunities. Please reach out to catch up – I'm all ears!
When I go on a holiday, there are two literary companions I never leave behind: a thrilling crime novel and an enlightening personal development book. Throughout the years, I've revisited my collection, but Mario Puzo's "The Family" consistently rises to the top. #MarioPuzo
Meditation, do you practice? I go through phases and even though I know it’s good for my mind, I’m often too distracted to take the time. Let’s see if I can meditate every day this week…Check out todays (day 1) #meditation on #InsightTimer! https://t.co/8PJIljwbml
Years ago my Great Great Uncle Harry owned nightclubs and casinos in Central London, today I collect memorabilia from the clubs. They had some shady members, apparently. If you know any stories of #churchillsofbondst or #21club get in touch #london#underworld#1960s
During lockdown I took the opportunity to get back into playing the sax! I took some lessons on zoom, sourced a vintage 1961 Mark VI, had it restored, and am now jamming regularly at local live music venues! #Sax#Blues#Jazz#Saxinthecity
It’s early Monday morning, the house is quiet with everyone asleep! What will this week bring? We’re raising funds for two very different development projects, due to sign on multiple option contracts, another degree module to submit, and a sax jam session! #propertyinvestment