Harvey Keitelsteals the show in most of the films he appears in. Even before his hilarious small part in Quentin Tarantino’sPulp Fiction, he was turning heads with his quirky, hot-headed personas on the big screen. Those familiar with his work know that there’s another iconic director he’s collaborated with:Martin Scorsese. Their works date back 50 years, which is hard to believe, and they’ve made a total of seven movies together (so far).
FromClockerstoThe Irishman, see below for a comprehensive list, in ranking order, of all the films Scorsese and Keitel have worked on together, some of whichScorsese has starred inas well.
7Clockers (1995)
Based on the acclaimed book by Richard Price (The Outsider, The Night of),Clockerscenters on a young drug dealer named Strike (Mekhi Phifer), who works for kingpin Rodney Little (Delroy Lindo). The main plot kicks into high gear when Rodney tasks Strike with killing a former dealer who stole from him. And once the target turns up dead, a complicated case spawns, led by a fierce homicide detective (Keitel). Is it true Strike’s brother Victor (Isaiah Washington) did the deed, or is his surprise confession a ploy to cover for Strike? John Turturro also co-stars.
What Makes It Great
Scorcese producedClockersand left Spike Lee in the director’s chair. It’s not either of the filmmakers' finest achievement, but is still certainly worth a tune-in thanks to Keitel’s star power and more. In fact, it sits at a respectable 73% on Rotten Tomatoes with critics, who called it “a work of mournful maturity.”
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6Who’s That Knocking at My Door (1967)
Keitel takes the center-stage inWho’s That Knocking at My Dooras J.R., an Italian-American living in New York. We watch as he falls for a local girl (a stand-out Zina Bethune), but then puts his guard up and questions true love once he learns of her dark past involving rape. Themes of religion, society’s conventions/expectations, and more are highlighted in this tense character study.
Out of theScorcese-directed pictureson this list, this early achievement may not rank up there with others in terms of his director trademarks and style, but it’s still an impressive effort for a budding filmmaker who was still quite early in his career trajectory.
5The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
Scorsese has already revealed he hasanother movie about Jesusin the works. Years earlier, his fascination with subject came to life on the big screen withThe Last Temptation of Christ, based on a novel of the same name about the titular carpenter who becomes tormented by temptations of demons, God, and, perhaps above all else, a normal life.
Although the film was shrouded in controversy for years to come, Scorsese’s passion for the subject shines through, especially thanks to committed turns by Keitel and Willem Dafoe in the titular role.
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4Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974)
After her husband dies, Alice (Ellen Burstyn) and her son, Tommy, leave their small New Mexico town for California, where Alice hopes to make it as a singer. Money problems force them to settle in Arizona instead, where Alice takes a job as waitress in a small diner. She intends to stay in Arizona just long enough to make the money needed to head back out on the road, but her plans change when she begins to fall for a rancher named David (Kris Kristofferson).
Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymoreis another early effort by Scorsese, and despite its by-the-books nature, it’s an impactful drama that sticks with you thanks to the acting showcase by Burstyn, as per usual.
3The Irishman (2019)
Yes, it’s a story about truck driver Frank Sheeran’s rise to crime-laced glory in the 1950s, butThe Irishmanbecomes so much more across its three-hour runtime, especially when Sheeran links up with notorious Teamster and gangster Jimmy Hoffa. Watch as Sheeran dodges prison time and more as he becomes an infamous hitman in this gripping true story. Scene-stealing supporting turns by Keitel, Bobby Cannavale, Ray Romano, and more highlight this acclaimed Netflix feature.
Compared to Scorsese’s other recent entries in his filmography,The Irishmanis a crowning achievement. The adjective “epic” doesn’t exactly do justice to this sprawling mobster mosaic that features virtually every Italian mobster-type actor in Hollywood — and that includes Keitel, of course.
2Mean Streets (1973)
Peak Scorsesian antics shine through inMean Streets, which delves into the criminal street life of Little Italy that’s populated by mobsters, punks and petty crooks. Keitel and De Niro play small-time crooks who get in over their heads after one of them owes money to some vicious loan sharks around town.
Some sayMean Streetsis Scorsese’s finest film to date. If nothing else, it’s certainly Keitel’s best role in a Marty picture, playing the sort of “good guy” amongst a sea of crime and crooks in Manhattan. More than anything, of course,Mean Streetseffectively marks the first of many collaborations between De Niro and Scorsese.
1Taxi Driver (1976)
“You talkin' to me?” Travis Bickle, ladies and gentlemen. The infamous (and fictional) New York taxi driver will stop at nothing to clean the “filthy” city streets, as he lies awake at night and slowly loses his grip on reality. His dreams of saving the world lead to a chance run-in with a child prostitute (Jodie Foster), whose pimp is played with ultimate sleeze by Keitel.
Taxi Driveris a timeless classic that will continue to be detailed in film studies classes around the world for generations to come, making it Scorsese’s best movie to date, especially in terms of Keitel collaborations.
