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Harvey Keitel: The Art of Darkness
A widely praised biography of one of Hollywood's most admired actors-now in paperback. Harvey Keitel has made his menacing presence felt in some of the greatest cult movies ever, from Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets and Taxi Driver to Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. With more than fifty films to his credit, Keitel is one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood. Yet unlike so many of his contemporaries, he constantly surprises us with daring performances in independent or groundbreaking films, such as The Bad Lieutenant, The Last Temptation of Christ, The Piano, and Smoke. His willingness to take risks and experiment-to continually expand his craft and self-knowledge-has inspired a generation of young actors and directors. Harvey Keitel: The Art of Darkness gives a complete portrait of one of the most admired and influential figures working in film: his years on the street in Brooklyn as a kid, his time in the Marines, his early promise and association with Scorsese and Robert De Niro, his firing from the set of Apocalypse Now, his self-imposed Hollywood exile in the eighties, his volatile marriage, and, of course, his extraordinary and well-deserved success. 8 Pages of Black-and-White Photographs Filmography/Index
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
Paperback
Published January 1, 2000
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About the author
Marshall Fine
12 books62 followersMarshall Fine is an author, journalist, critic, historian, and filmmaker.
His first novel, "The Autumn of Ruth Winters," will be published by Lake Union Press in November 2024.
His second novel, "Clara’s Girl," was recently purchased by Lake Union Press, to be published in the fall of 2025.
Fine is the author of three biographies: "Bloody Sam: The Life and Films of Sam Peckinpah" (1991); "Harvey Keitel: The Art of Darkness" (1998); and "Accidental Genius: How John Cassavetes Invented the American Independent Film" (2006).
Fine started writing rock criticism for the Minneapolis Star at the age of 18, beginning a journalism career that covered a half-century. He spent 25 years as film critic and entertainment writer for Gannett Newspapers and another 10 as film/TV critic for Star magazine. He wrote the website Hollywood & Fine.com from 2008-16.
His writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News, USA Today, New York Observer, Variety, Premiere, Cosmopolitan, Sports Illustrated, Penthouse, Indiewire.com and Entertainment Weekly. He conducted the Playboy Interview with both Howard Stern and Tim Robbins, and wrote more than two dozen cover stories for Cigar Aficionado as contributing editor.
Fine is a four-time former chairman (1992, 2002, 2006, 2015) and member emeritus of the New York Film Critics Circle. He was named general manager of the NYFCC in 2016 and retired from the position in 2021. He received a special award from the group in 2022 for "service to the group and his many decades on the New York film scene."
After 20 years of programming and hosting subscription film clubs at four different venues in the New York area, he retired in May 2021 as critic-in-residence at The Picture House in Pelham, NY, where he created its sold-out film club. He received the Harold Lloyd Lifetime Achievement Award from The Picture House in 2021.
Fine spent the 2020-21 academic year as an adjunct journalism professor at Purchase College-SUNY.
He directed and produced the documentary features "Robert Klein Still Can’t Stop His Leg" and "Do You Sleep in the Nude?", and the short documentary, "Flo Fox’s Dicthology."
His photography show, “Natural & Unnatural,” was exhibited in the Ossining Public Library Gallery in January 2023.
His first novel, "The Autumn of Ruth Winters," will be published by Lake Union Press in November 2024.
His second novel, "Clara’s Girl," was recently purchased by Lake Union Press, to be published in the fall of 2025.
Fine is the author of three biographies: "Bloody Sam: The Life and Films of Sam Peckinpah" (1991); "Harvey Keitel: The Art of Darkness" (1998); and "Accidental Genius: How John Cassavetes Invented the American Independent Film" (2006).
Fine started writing rock criticism for the Minneapolis Star at the age of 18, beginning a journalism career that covered a half-century. He spent 25 years as film critic and entertainment writer for Gannett Newspapers and another 10 as film/TV critic for Star magazine. He wrote the website Hollywood & Fine.com from 2008-16.
His writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News, USA Today, New York Observer, Variety, Premiere, Cosmopolitan, Sports Illustrated, Penthouse, Indiewire.com and Entertainment Weekly. He conducted the Playboy Interview with both Howard Stern and Tim Robbins, and wrote more than two dozen cover stories for Cigar Aficionado as contributing editor.
Fine is a four-time former chairman (1992, 2002, 2006, 2015) and member emeritus of the New York Film Critics Circle. He was named general manager of the NYFCC in 2016 and retired from the position in 2021. He received a special award from the group in 2022 for "service to the group and his many decades on the New York film scene."
After 20 years of programming and hosting subscription film clubs at four different venues in the New York area, he retired in May 2021 as critic-in-residence at The Picture House in Pelham, NY, where he created its sold-out film club. He received the Harold Lloyd Lifetime Achievement Award from The Picture House in 2021.
Fine spent the 2020-21 academic year as an adjunct journalism professor at Purchase College-SUNY.
He directed and produced the documentary features "Robert Klein Still Can’t Stop His Leg" and "Do You Sleep in the Nude?", and the short documentary, "Flo Fox’s Dicthology."
His photography show, “Natural & Unnatural,” was exhibited in the Ossining Public Library Gallery in January 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 24, 2017
The best book I could have found to satisfy my current, unexplainable need to know everything about Keitel. It manages to situate his work and his life within his contemporaries and the filmmakers he worked under while also trying to be true to who he is as a person (obsessive, perfectionist, intense to the point of self-sabotage). The author steps back and allows snippets of interview, quotes from his friends and coworkers, and, most of all, his approach of acting to speak for themselves. A fascinating read for anyone who wishes to understand more about a central figure of the history of movie making, who managed to work (and still works) with some of the greatest figures of his time (Scorsese, Scott, Campion, Tarantino, Anderson, and Tavernier, among others).
September 28, 2024
Adequate biography of the tormented-with-a-capitol-T actor, and it functions more as a transcript of an extended interview with Keitel around the mid-1990s. The author inserts too much Kietel analysis of his own, and this provides flashbacks with explanations that grow wearisome to read. Once the man's stardom and acclaim and marital problems come into play, the book also seems to lose objectivity. A major plus is the section devoted to "Apocalypse Now," because it answers finally the facts behind Keitel's firing from the film.
July 21, 2024
Unlike many books I've purchased in recent years I came across this biography waiting for an equally interesting movie, The Bikeriders, to start. The parallels between the lead in that film (Tom Hardy) and Keitel are striking - both have strong personalities willing to take on challenging roles, leaving a trail of tears in their wake.
I was drawn to the double entendre of the title, The Art of Darkness, a reference to Keitel's exit from Coppola's "Apocalypse Now" and the related documentary "The Heart of Darkness" surrounding the making of the film. The story behind Keitel's exit from Coppola's set varies but is likely a combination of his (Keitel's) need to work for financial reasons and the schedule interruption caused by Marlin Brando and Keitel's insistence in multiple takes to get the best delivery. Coppola was having none of it so he said adios to Harvey who was replaced by Martin Sheen as Col. Willard. His style, technique and lack of bankability in Hollywood relegated him to character roles for the 80's and early 90's. Ironically it was Quentin Tarantino who helped turn his downward trajectory around with "Reservoir Dogs" in '92. Keitel remained a singular actor stating about his role in "From Dusk To Dawn" another of QT's epics: "I made this movie because it presents a theme that appears in many movies I do. It's about faith and the loss of faith and the journey through hell to regain it. It's perhaps the only valid theme there is." (p. 245). As this bio ends in 1996 when Keitel's career if not personal life are finally on the upswing, Janet Maslin if the NY Times said I'm sure there are people writing parts for him, hoping to get his attention. Dennis Hopper had that and lost it. Christopher Walken had that and overused it. But Harvey is just getting better. He's really pretty smart in how he's handled it." (p. 250)
All up he's lived an interesting life and his story is well told by Marshall Fine.
I was drawn to the double entendre of the title, The Art of Darkness, a reference to Keitel's exit from Coppola's "Apocalypse Now" and the related documentary "The Heart of Darkness" surrounding the making of the film. The story behind Keitel's exit from Coppola's set varies but is likely a combination of his (Keitel's) need to work for financial reasons and the schedule interruption caused by Marlin Brando and Keitel's insistence in multiple takes to get the best delivery. Coppola was having none of it so he said adios to Harvey who was replaced by Martin Sheen as Col. Willard. His style, technique and lack of bankability in Hollywood relegated him to character roles for the 80's and early 90's. Ironically it was Quentin Tarantino who helped turn his downward trajectory around with "Reservoir Dogs" in '92. Keitel remained a singular actor stating about his role in "From Dusk To Dawn" another of QT's epics: "I made this movie because it presents a theme that appears in many movies I do. It's about faith and the loss of faith and the journey through hell to regain it. It's perhaps the only valid theme there is." (p. 245). As this bio ends in 1996 when Keitel's career if not personal life are finally on the upswing, Janet Maslin if the NY Times said I'm sure there are people writing parts for him, hoping to get his attention. Dennis Hopper had that and lost it. Christopher Walken had that and overused it. But Harvey is just getting better. He's really pretty smart in how he's handled it." (p. 250)
All up he's lived an interesting life and his story is well told by Marshall Fine.
February 9, 2014
Harvey Keitel is a great actor who has enjoyed ALOT of success within the film industry, but it wasn't always like this for him.. He struggled to get to where he is today, and his story is filled with great insights into the actors early years as an actor. If you're an actor or just interested in Film & actors, pick up a copy. A great read, filled with inspiration.
August 6, 2008
excellent insight to one the worlds most independent and uncompromising actors
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews