The side of New York depicted in Mean Streets is one of masculine hypocrisy. The film opens with its lead character asking God if it’s okay that he repents for his sins in his own way, and moves on to the crimes that this man commits with his friends. They are gruff and violent, insulting and punching each other as often as they can. They call each other “friends” while exchanging money for their gambling and deals for illegal items, but quickly break into a brawl because, after all, they aren’t really fond of each other. The song “Shakey Dog” depicts a similar taste for violence, as the rapper, Ghostface Killah,  and his friend plan to rob a group of drug dealers that trust Ghostface Killah. The saying is true – there is “no honor among thieves.” But, Mean Streets, being in its longer format, is able to depict a happier side of the story of these violent men, showing that there is a degree of camaraderie when they all relax in a bar together.