A Harvey Keitel HD Film Package for the Serious Viewer

A Harvey Keitel HD Film Package for the Serious Viewer

It probably wouldn't surprise many people to learn that Harvey Keitel was a Marine before he went into acting. If there is one thing that is consistent in every Keitel performance, it is his toughness. From being one of the preferred actors of Scorsese and Abel Ferrara to his career as a Hollywood character actor, Keitel has always been a fan favorite. Here are 5 HD films to check out on satellite TV when you have time over the holidays or just a little break.

1. Bad Lieutenant. Keitel's signature performance is one for the ages. You can only imagine the intensity on Ferrara's set as he guided Keitel through this gritty masterpiece. If he isn't partaking in the drugs he seizes or sexually harassing girls he pulls over for speeding, bad cop Keitel is trying to guide two nun-raping thugs through some sort of spiritual cleansing. It's the type of film which is so convincing in its documentary style that you can see this very ugly New York story playing out in real life.

2. Mean Streets. Keitel quickly became one of the favorites of the young Scorsese and this is their finest collaboration to date. Keitel is working his way up in the world of the mob as the nephew of a serious Mafia player. His problems revolve around friend Johnny Boy (a savage De Niro) and his epileptic girlfriend, Johnny's sister. The sparks really fly in this picture. Check it out in HD on the Independent Film Channel.

3. Smoke. For a quieter Keitel performance, head to the annals of literary cinema. Wayne Wang and Paul Auster co-directed this picture which follows the life of writer William Hurt in his Brooklyn neighborhood. Keitel plays Auggie, the owner of a cigar store with a photography habit and a lot of good stories. More films should be so poetic and still have such a solid plot. Look for Forest Whitaker in one of his typically excellent performances, as well as great cameos by many of your favorites.

4. Who's that Knocking at my Door? For a rollicking good time with a very fresh faced Keitel, check out this Scorsese film which the master was working on while still at NYU film school. You can see the energy, the intensity, the humor and the penchant for dark storylines which later became the hallmarks of the Great Scorsese. This film must be seen without editing or commercial interruption, preferably on Sundance or IFC in HD.

5. Holy Smoke. For more of Keitel in comedic form, check out this Jane Campion picture which stars a young Kate Winslet and a not so young Harvey. He has the tough task of deprogramming young Kate after she appears to be under the spell of an Australian cult. Needless to say, she has her own plans for this grizzled American who seems to have been beamed into the Outback. It's a howling laugh fest: check satellite TV guides for show times.

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