lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
Hell, I don't mind if a great director makes the same types of films over and over again, (ie: Wes Anderson and Scorsese's crime dramas) as long as that shit's entertaining, you know?
Contrary to popular belief, Marty hasn't made THAT many crime films: Mean Streets, GoodFellas, Casino, The Departed. By comparison, Coppola did three Godfathers and The Cotton Club. Yet he's not pigeonholed. And you could probably throw Rumble Fish and The Outsiders in there too if you're going to include something as small-time as Mean Streets.
Sidney Lumet is the guy who's been making NYC crime films his entire career.