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Fargo - Special Edition
MGM/UA // R // $24.98 // September 30, 2003

Jerry Lundergaard (William H. Macy) is in a pinch. He needs cash for money making venture, so he schemes up a way to get it: have his wife (Kristin Rudrüd) kidnapped, get his evil father-in-law (Harve Presnell) to pay the ransom, and split the money with the kidnappers. Of course, nothing goes according to plan and Jerry is quickly digging himself out of one mess after another.

Jerry may be a bumbling fool, but it’s hard not to root for the guy. Sure, he’s doing the wrong thing, but he’s always trying. Despite setback after setback, he never gives up. You want him to fail, but you also want him to succeed, at least once, which makes every new mistake funnier and more depressing at the same time.

In a way, I empathize with Jerry’s attempt to get ahead because he’s real. As are all the characters in this film. But it’s more than just the way they speak (which, let’s admit, is pretty darn funny). From the dialect, clothing, and bland locations, this is middle-class America. I feel it in every scene.

I feel it’s this reality that, in part, makes Fargo so funny. It’s a dark humor that arises from the bizarre situations these real people find themselves in. It’s discomforting to watch these events unravel, particularly the violence, which for one reason or another lends itself to humor. Watching the tension grow between talkative kidnapper, Carl (Steve Buscemi), and the quiet Gaear (Peter Stormare), is funny because you can’t wait to see how they screw up, which you know they’ll do, not once, but many times.

Whereas Jerry, Carl, and Gaear are the inept criminals, Marge (Frances McDormand) is the rock. She’s the small town sheriff who quietly does her job—and does it well. She’s also pregnant, which is perfect since it lends itself perfectly to the slightly off kilter film as she hunts down the kidnappers after a violent turn of events on the highway. Naturally, it wouldn’t be a Coen brother film is she, too, wasn’t thrust into some of her own odd situations, such as meeting a high school classmate for lunch only to find him overly forward in his flirting.

Perhaps the best part of this film (and most Coen brother films, actually) is the dialog. It’s nearly impossible to watch this film without quoting two or three lines for the rest of the week. It’s memorable because it’s funny. It’s funny because it’s real. Everything said in Fargo is exactly what would’ve been said had the events in this film actually occurred (which they didn’t).

The Coen’s are masters of their craft. They know how to pull together an amazing cast, give them colorful characters, throw them into bizarre situations, and see what happens. In the case of Fargo, the result is a perfectly entertaining film.

THE VIDEO
MGM presents Fargo in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, enhanced for widescreen televisions (you also get a full frame version on the other side of the disc). This is the same transfer as the last MGM release, which is fine since it’s a great transfer. Colors, blacks, and skin tones are all perfect, and detail reaches well into the shadows. This isn’t a flashy movie, so you won’t see anything really bright or vibrant, but what you do get looks very sharp. There are some issues with compression, but nothing major that would detract from the overall look of the image. Great stuff.

THE AUDIO
Face it, Fargo is a movie filled with dialog, so you can’t expect a workout from you speakers. But what you do get from this solid 5.1 Dolby Digital track is clean, crisp vocals. The subdued music sounds perfect and truly sets the mood, however, rears are used sparingly at best so you don’t get much more than ambiance. There is fine separation here and no major problems to note.

This disc also includes a French track and subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.

THE BONUS FEATURES
Fargo finally gets the special edition treatment. Luckily, it’s closer to the holy grail fans were hoping for than the fluff piece some might have expected. It’s got some great stuff, actually, and some stuff that I couldn’t even find (the “hidden” link to a separate menu is easy to find, the extra goodies are not).

Easily the most enjoyable segment of this disc (aside from the film, obviously) is the new documentary, Minnesota Nice. This 30-minute documentary features a retrospective look at Fargo with interviews of the cast and filmmakers. I’ve never laughed so hard listening to interviews. Hearing the cast discuss how nice people are in the Minnesota area or how Stormare thought there was a typo in the script is downright hilarious. This will be one documentary that I watch again.

Another great interview piece is the Charlie Rose Show clip that features the Coen brothers and McDormand. Hearing them discuss the likelihood of the brothers making a film that actually makes money and earns critical acclaim is sort of ironic since Fargo won several Academy Awards.

You can also view the movie with an audio commentary by director of photography Roger A. Deakins or with a text trivia track. The commentary is fairly technical and rarely strays from information about camera placement and lighting. It has a fair amount of dead space and is neither dull nor particularly entertaining. The trivia track, however, is loaded with weird information, from the number of McDonald’s in the world (about 28,000) to Stormare’s thoughts on becoming a priest prior to becoming an actor. I never thought I could learn something by watching a Coen brother’s film, but that day has come.

Also on tap is a full frame TV spot, a trailer, and a photo gallery that oddly enough has several photos shown more than once.

THE MENUS
The Fargo DVD offers animated menus that showcase static imagery from the film and feature sounds of an artic wind (brrrrr). Perhaps the coolest look is shown on the secondary menu, found only by accessing a hidden icon. I won't ruin the surprise, but these secondary menus offer some fun images that might be of interest to those who purchased the limited edition VHS some years back.

FINAL THOUGHTS
If you never bought one of the previous lackluster DVD editions of Fargo now’s the time to do it. If you did buy one or both of them, it’s time to upgrade. Although not perfect, the extra features are worth the $20 you’ll be spending on this new disc. And for those who have never seen this film, you owe it to yourself to change that as soon as you can.

IFP kudos to Close, Buscemi

By DAVID ROONEY

Glenn Close and Steve Buscemi, Focus Features co-president David Linde and producer Ed Pressman will be feted with this year's IFP Gotham Awards for their outstanding contributions to the New York filmmaking community. "Each of this year's honorees has contributed to the vitality and diversity of the New York filmmaking industry," said Michelle Byrd, executive director of IFP/New York, which is now entering its 25th year.

"Glenn Close is being honored for her prolific and versatile career in film, theater and television. When it comes to the independent film movement, no one epitomizes it better than Steve Buscemi. The IFP recognizes David Linde as the head of a studio who has made an indelible mark on the independent community worldwide. With Ed Pressman, we honor a true producing maverick."

Chelsea kudofest

Presentation of the 13th annual Gotham Awards will take place Sept. 22 at a gala ceremony at New York's Chelsea Piers. For the first time, the kudos will be televised, on IFC Sept. 23 and on Bravo Sept. 28.

The special awards no longer will be presented in specific categories as in past editions but will instead recognize individuals for their overall body of work.

Close's upcoming films include James Ivory's "Le Divorce," with Kate Hudson and Naomi Watts, and Frank Oz's "The Stepford Wives," starring Nicole Kidman, Bette Midler, Matthew Broderick and Christopher Walken.

Buscemi will next be seen in Tim Burton's "Big Fish" and on the new season of "The Sopranos." He is also preparing his third feature as director, "Queer," based on the writings of William Burroughs. Pic has been selected for presentation in IFP/New York's No Borders financing market.

Linde in Focus

Former Good Machine president Linde's upcoming slate at Focus includes Sofia Coppola's "Lost in Translation," Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's "21 Grams" and Christine Jeff's "Sylvia." Company has Francois Ozon's "Swimming Pool" in release.

Recent productions from Pressman's ContentFilm banner include David Gordon Green's "The Undertow," which was picked up by United Artists, and Sundance hit "The Cooler," due out from Lions Gate.

© Copyright 2003, Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. © 2003 Variety, Inc.

Artists Benefit

Steve Guest Stars 2x on The Simpsons

In the episode "Brake My Wife, Please," when Judge Harm revokes Homer's driver's license, Marge is forced to do all the driving. She gets increasingly stressed while chauffeuring everyone around and develops road rage. So, Homer starts walking and actually begins to enjoy it as he meets many interesting people out on the street – including Steve Buscemi and Jackson Browne (guest-starring as themselves) – that is, until an enraged Marge sees Homer crossing the street and attempts to clip him with her car. May 18 - Episode# 313 Titled Moe Baby Blues

When the entire town shows up at the Springfield Botanical Gardens to watch the once-in-a-lifetime blooming of the Sumatran Century Flower, there is room for everyone but Moe. The event causes a panic and during the ensuing traffic jam Maggie is thrown from the Simpsons' car into the arms of a suicidal Moe - who is dubbed a hero by the city. Maggie accepts him unconditionally as her new babysitter and surrogate father, much to Homer's dismay and rage, while Moe's new reason to live starts to turn into an obsession that proves useful when Maggie gets in the middle of a mafia gang war between Fat Tony (Joe Mantegna) and Don Castellaneta (Steve Buscemi).

Ba-da-boom Buscemi

By MICHAEL FLEMING

Now that HBO and James Gandolfini have settled their dispute over salary, the network and creator David Chase are negotiating a deal with Steve Buscemi to play a recurring character on the series, as well as direct episodes. Buscemi has made a commitment to be available for two seasons, in the event that Chase decides to go beyond a fifth season that is about to begin production. The deal underscores what a directing fixture Buscemi has become for the network. He earned an Emmy nom for directing a "Sopranos" episode and has helmed "Oz" episodes as well as the pilot for "Baseball Wives." Buscemi has also directed the films "Trees Lounge" and "Animal Factory."

A thug's life

As an actor, the Brooklyn-born Buscemi seems perfectly cast to join the Jersey-based Sopranos crime clan. He's played convincing criminals in films ranging from "Fargo" to "Reservoir Dogs" and "Con Air." Buscemi is currently shooting "Big Fish" for director Tim Burton at Columbia, and he is expected to join the "Sopranos" cast for work shortly after.

Buscemi's double deal is a welcome sign to "Sopranos" faithful that the show is back on track, as the network and Gandolfini end a bitter and protracted stalemate that left some fearing the mob drama might sleep with the fishes.

Buscemi is repped by The Firm and Endeavor.

© 2002 Reed Business Information © 2002 Variety, Inc.

Steve in Prison?

PHILADELPHIA, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Actor Steve Buscemi, star of Fargo, Armageddon, and Ghost World, will narrate the new "Voices of Eastern State" audio tour at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site. The tour will launch April 16.

This year will mark the tenth season of tours inside the sky-lit corridors of the penitentiary. The historic site will celebrate the occasion by introducing the "Voices of Eastern State" audio tour, incorporating the voices of three former wardens and twenty-two former officers and inmates. Acoustiguide, the world's leader in museum audio tour design, is producing the tour with a team of award-winning writers and producers.

The historic site will also open several dramatic new vistas in the prison's cathedral-like cellblocks, and allow visitors, for the first time, to enter the abandoned penitentiary without hard hats. The historic site will open nearly twice the number of days as in previous years.

Steve Buscemi first visited Eastern State in 2000, while scouting film locations, and has remained interested in preservation efforts at the National Historic Landmark. Buscemi won The New York Film Critics Award in 2002, and was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in Ghost World.

"He knew the building. He understood [the appeal]. He's an actor's actor. He's more quirky," said Eastern State's program director, Sean Kelley.

The prison was considered a model of prison life when it opened in the Fairmount section in 1836, but fell into disrepair and closed in 1971.

In 1994, the prison was opened to seasonal tours. Last year, it attracted 64,000 visitors.

The audio tapes will be produced by New York-based Acoustiguide, the leader in museum audio-tour design.

For more information, the public should explore the penitentiary's web site at www.EasternState.org, or call (215) 236-3300.

Americans, French together for fest

Rockwell, Buscemi will present fest opener '13 Moons'

PARIS -- New Yorkers in search of artistic rather than political reasons to love or hate the French will have plenty to dig into during next month's 9th Avignon/New York Film Festival.

Nine American and nine French indie pics will compete for the "21st Century Filmmaker Awards" and 26 shorts round out the program, screening in four Manhattan venues April 5 to April 13.

Texan Jerome Henry Rudes spearheads the sister event to the Avignon Film Festival, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in June.

Director Alexandre Rockwell and lead thesp Steve Buscemi will present fest opener, 13 Moons. Christine Lahti is slated to join director Joseph Sargent for closing night film, "Out of the Ashes."

Thesps Tatum O'Neill and Dominique Swain and Gallic screenwriter/directors Virginie Wagon, Bernard Rapp and Isabelle Doval are also expected to attend.

Eight round-table discussions will cover subjects including "The Death and Re-Birth of the Art Cinema" and "Intl. Co-Production and Co-Financing."

William Wellman Jr. and Gary Cooper's daughter, Maria Cooper, will present a special screening of silent classic and first best picture Oscar winner "Wings" (1927) at 8 p.m. on April 8 at Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street. Alexandra Gordon has composed a new musical score for the occasion.

Two New Buscemi Films for 2003

Named one of Variety's 10 international producers to watch at Cannes in 1999, Marshall Persinger and Nick Cassavetes will produce "The Sky Is Green," written and to be directed by first-time feature helmer Xan Cassavetes, daughter of the late, great John Cassavetes. Rick Ross will also share producing duties.

The Los Angeles-set story revolves around a music-obsessed hip-hop record label owner who rediscovers his love for music only after prioritizing it over debilitating relationships and business.

Production company: Fresh Produce Films

Hollywood Reporter

Columbia lands trophy stars for 'Big Fish' story
Fri Nov 15, 2:14 AM ET

By Zorianna Kit

LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- Danny DeVito, Helena Bonham Carter, Steve Buscemi and "White Oleander" star Alison Lohman are in final negotations to join the cast of Columbia Pictures' adventure feature "Big Fish" for director Tim Burton.

The project goes into production on January 3 in Alabama, with Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup and Jessica Lange also starring.

Richard D. Zanuck, Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen are producing the project, which is based on Daniel Wallace's "Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions."

"Fish" revolves around a dying father (Finney) and his son (Crudup), who is trying to learn more about his dad by piecing together the stories he has gathered over the years.

The son winds up re-creating his elusive father's life in a series of legends and myths inspired by the few facts he knows. Through these tales, the son begins to understand his father's great feats -- and his great failings. McGregor will play Finney's character in the re-creation of the tales.

Lange will play the wife to Finney's character, with Lohman playing her as a younger woman in the tales. The other cast members are all key players in the stories, with DeVito starring as Amos, a man who runs a circus where McGregor's character works for a time; Buscemi as poet Norther Winslow; and Carter as Jenny, a woman featured prominently throughout.

John August adapted the "Fish" screenplay, which is being overseen by Columbia senior vp production Andrea Giannetti, who is reporting to production president Peter Schlessel.

To read a short script review of Big Fish, click here.

Lou Reed Album Featuring Steve 2 B Released 1/28/02

NY Daily News/Rush & Molloy....

A bit of bad news from The Hollywood Reporter:

'Baseball Wives' hits the shower before it gets into HBO's rotation

"Baseball Wives," the HBO drama from Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson revolving around the antics of Major League Baseball spouses, has struck out. Rumors started circulating Tuesday that the cable network has scrapped the project. The show received an eight-episode order in March and was expanded to a 13-episode pickup in May, but no episodes have been produced beyond the pilot directed by Steve Buscemi. HBO had no comment Wednesday. (Nellie Andreeva)

Check out the following two articles mentioning Steve:

Newsday.com - "Firefighters: Show Us The Money" By William Murphy, Vera Haller and Mike Woods

Backstage.com - "The Jill Factor" By Jenelle Riley

Acting! Thank you!

Rounding out the all-star cast are Steve Buscemi, Dominic Chianese, Billy Crudup, Charles Durning, Linda Emond, Tom Riis Farrell, Paul Giamatti, Michael Goldfinger, John Goodman, Jacqueline McKenzie, Chris McKinney, Ajay Naidu, Novella Nelson, Matte Osian, Chazz Palminteri, Tony Randall, Robert Stanton, John Ventimiglia, Pavlo Hummel , Lothaire Bluteau, Sterling Brown and Jack Willis.

Written in the late 1930s, "Arturo Ui" was Brecht's attempt to explode the Hitler myth.

Arturo Ui, the Hitler stand-in, is a low-level Chicago thug who gains power not through force of will or charismatic leadership but by brutal street tactics.

He runs a protection racket for a group of Chicago businessmen and, by whacking the right people, he and his henchmen - Givola (the Goebbels stand-in played by Steve Buscemi) and Giri (Goering) - wind up controlling the city.

In the play, Brecht, who loved Hollywood gangster movies from the 1930s, transposes key moments in Hitler's political life to gangland Chicago"

Click here to read more about the play. Tickets for 'Arturo Ui' may be purchased through Telecharge. Call (212) 239-6200 to order via credit card.

Buscemi Brings LITTOM and Grey Zone to Woodstock

The Woodstock Film Festival has selected more than 125 feature films, docs and shorts for its third annual event, running Sept. 18-22 in Woodstock, N.Y. Fest will kick off with Rebecca Miller's digitally shot "Personal Velocity," the Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner that was picked up by United Artists Pictures. It will close with "Far From Heaven," directed by Todd Haynes, to be released by Focus Features. Event received more than 700 submissions, up from last year's 500.

"The films screening this year are very much about seeking meaning," said Meira Blaustein, WFF director. "They'll make you laugh, cry, get angry, celebrate humanity and the universe. They grapple with issues that tug at our heart, making us stop our daily routines and pay attention to the bigger picture."

Key fest participants include Tim Robbins, Steve Buscemi, Tim Blake Nelson, Rebecca Miller, Parker Posey, Haskell Wexler, Gary Winick, Fisher Stevens, Mary Harron, Zachary Sklar, Bill Plympton, John Sloss, Ira Deutchman, Arlo Guthrie, Warren Haynes, Mike Gordon and Harold Leventhal.

Narrative features in competition include Babak Shokrian's "America So Beautiful"; Karen Moncrieff's "Blue Car"; Andrew Bujalski's "Funny Ha Ha" (world premiere); "Khaled," directed by Asghar Massombagi; Neil Burger's "Interview With an Assassin"; Michael Gilio's "Kwik Stop"; "Love in the Time of Money" by Peter Mattei; "Manic" from helmer Jordan Melamed; and "May" by Lucky McKee.

Also screening are Jonathan Demme's work-in-progress "The Agronomist," Tim Blake Nelson's "The Grey Zone," Jason Kliot's "Site," Gus Van Sant's "Gerry" and Fisher Stevens' "Just a Kiss."

This year's event expands to venues outside of Woodstock, including the 1,500-seat Broadway Theater at the Ulster Performing Arts Center in nearby Kingston, N.Y.

Steve and Family Go To Scotland

Copyright 2002 EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS
The Express

August 17, 2002

Comic Billy Connolly will be celebrating his 60th birthday at his Highland estate tonight with a surprise new banjo from his Hollywood chums.

The Glasgow-born former shipyard worker was a keen folk singer and banjo player before he discovered the comedy talent that has made him a household name.

Yesterday, American film star Steve Buscemi (they met when filming The Imposters) arrived in Scotland with his wife, Jo, and their teenage son clutching the banjo as they headed to Connolly's nearby home, Candacraig House, in Aberdeenshire. When quizzed on the unusual piece of luggage Buscemi admitted it was a gift for the comedian's 60th birthday. "Yes, this is for Billy. But it's supposed to be a surprise, " he said.

The actor is just one of a host of stars arriving in Scotland this weekend.

A huge marquee has already been erected in front of the turreted mansion in preparation for tonight's glittering party.

Former Monty Python comedian Eric Idle and Mrs Doubtfire star Robin Williams - regular guests at the Connolly's retreat - are believed to have flown into Aberdeen Airport yesterday morning.

But it's unlikely any gifts they brought with them will measure up to the one from the Bucsemis. Although he got rid of the banjo on stage to concentrate on comedy, Connolly has always loved to play the instrument.

The new banjo from his guests will almost certainly get an airing at tonight's party.

Buscemi said yesterday he would be getting into the party spirit himself by adopting Highland dress.

He added: "I will definitely be wearing a kilt and I'm really looking forward to it.

"I've been to Scotland before and it's just one of the greatest places there is." Other famous guests paying tribute to Connolly include funnymen Lenny Henry and Rowan Atkinson and Celtic boss Martin O'Neill.

Close friends and family of the Connollys have also been invited to the party and arrived on the same Gatwick flight as the Buscemis.

But only the actor and his family were escorted out of Aberdeen Airport by security guards and picked up by a Mercedes.

The Coens: Musical Kings?

Are Joel and Ethan Coen angling to become the Rodgers and Hammerstein of this millennium? Albeit, that's a reach. But after scoring a hit with their quirky musical fable "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" the Coens are jumping into the bigscreen musical genre again with "Romance and Cigarettes," a musical written by John Turturro that they are producing.

The list of actors being courted for roles includes James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Julia Stiles, Christopher Walken, Steve Buscemi and Aida Turturro. John Turturro is talking to his "Mr. Deeds" co-star Adam Sandler about making a cameo. Word is that the film might find its way to United Artists as a negative pickup, but that studio is denying they've made any deal.

Though his reps would not confirm, "Sopranos" star Gandolfini looks likely to make "Romance and Cigarettes" his hiatus film. He starred in the last Coen pic "The Man Who Wasn't There," and would topline the musical as a Brooklyn guy in what is being called "Pennies From Heaven" meets "The Honeymooners."

All of the participants will dance and sing. John Turturro, who was part of the "O Brother Where Art Thou" ensemble as well as "Barton Fink," has set the tale in his home base of Bensonhurst.

The Coens are shooting "Intolerable Cruelty," and a successful mounting of "Romance and Cigarettes" would put them alone as filmmakers who are bringing musicals to the bigscreen with any regularity. One of the surprises of "Brother" was the success of its Grammy winning soundtrack.

The road to making a movie musical has lately been paved with futility, particularly when the attempt is on a straight-ahead adaptation of a stage blockbuster. Miramax hopes to end that streak with the screen version of the Bob Fosse musical "Chicago" with Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger and Richard Gere, and there has even been rumor that Mel Brooks' Tony winning revival of "The Producers" might be redone onscreen, though not as long as the Broadway version keeps selling out and not until it finishes its upcoming national tour.

But Andrew Lloyd Webber has so far been unsuccessful in mounting movie versions of stage hits like "Phantom of the Opera" and "Sunset Boulevard." And Broadway hits "Rent" and Dreamgirls" stalled after much initial enthusiasm.

But Studios are still trying: Columbia is exploring a new "Bye Bye Birdie," while Focus and producer Laurence Mark are giving movie treatment to the Tony-winning Susan Stroman musical "Contact." John Weidman is writing and Stroman is skedded to make her feature directing debut and choreograph that pic. The film will focus on the third act of the musical, taking place in a "Saturday Night Fever"-like dance club. Still, it's 50-minutes of hoofing in a 90-minute film and is considered to be unlikely enough of a film adaptation that even the Coens would love it.

Film Arts Present a Work In Progress Screening of: Rockets Redglare Directed by Luis Fernandez de la Reguera

Admission is free and open to the public, don’t miss this opportunity to play a vital role in the filmmaking process Born addicted to heroin- the son of a junkie and an abusive step father, Michael Morra coped with his mother’s death by becoming Rockets Redglare. He went on to explore his own tragic beginnings through stand up comedy, partnering with Steve Buscemi in "The Rockets Redglare Taxi-Cabaret" and landing numerous roles playing characters not unlike himself or derived from the rough and seedy neighborhoods that were his home. He was bodyguard and drug dealer to Sid Vicious and Jean Michel Basquiat.

Rockets appeared in over 30 films, including "Stranger Than Paradise", "Desperately Seeking Susan", “Big” and "Trees Lounge". Interviews with many including Rockets Redglare, Steve Buscemi, Willem Dafoe, Matt Dillon, Jim Jarmusch, Julian Schnabel and archival footage of Rockets performing stand-up, take us into his world where irreverent comedy and a lust for life is simultaneously his triumph and downfall. His fight to survive despite the physical damage from years of alcohol, heroin and methadone, is proving to be his ultimate battle.

10th Anniversary Special Edition Reservoir Dogs DVD

The much-anticipated DVD version of director Quentin Tarantino's seminal pre-Pulp Fiction crime drama, starring Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi, Michael Madsen and Tim Roth, will include an extensive array of featurettes, cast and crew interviews, audio commentaries, deleted scenes and outtakes.

Extra features are to include a Real Life Reservoir Dogs featurette, an action figure development documentary, a Getaway Cars featurette, a film noir retrospective, some tributes to indie filmmakers, tributes to writers & directors inspired by Reservoir Dogs, a tribute to Lawrence Tierney, some interviews with Tarantino & other cast/crew members, select scene commentaries, mini commentaries with filmmakers & critics, deleted scenes, outtakes, production notes, a poster gallery, cast & crew info and two alternate camera angles of the "ear cutting" scene.

"You don't actually see any carnage, you just hear it, which is why I've always wondered why that scene has become so memorable," says Michael Madsen, who wields the knife on a captive cop. "It's become the focal point of any conversation about Reservoir Dogs. I've made 65 films, but nobody wants to talk about anything other than that scene. They'll probably write that on my tombstone."

The ear scenes (one a close-up) are just the most sensational "extras" about the film. Other extras include scenes of typical Tarantino banter; new interviews with all the principals, including one with real-life ex-con Eddie Bunker; and rare footage of key scenes rehearsed at a Sundance Directors' Lab workshop in 1991.

Click here to pre-order the DVD from Amazon.com.

Steve Presents 'Animal Factory' at The International Museum of Photography and Film

Located on historic East Avenue in Rochester, the 12.5-acre museum site was the urban estate of George Eastman (1854-1932), founder of Eastman Kodak Company. Opened in 1949, the Museum includes Mr. Eastman's restored house and gardens, an archives building and research center, galleries, two theaters, and an education center. The Museum displays the art, technology, and impact of photography and motion pictures over 150 years, and interprets the life of Mr. Eastman, an influential industrialist and philanthropist.

Buscemi Bolsters Outfest

Buscemi & Sandler Do The 'Deeds'

Mr. Deeds is being promoted thoroughly by Sandler including a VH1 special behind the scenes Cast Party and an HBO First Look (see http://www.tv-now.com/stars/sandler.html for dates and times).

Steve and Jo Attend McCartney Wedding

'Zone,' Keitel, Buscemi to Kick Off Stony Brook Festival

This year's Stony Brook Film Festival, the seventh annual, opens July 17 with the first East Coast showing of the star-studded, morally conflicted "The Grey Zone," which focuses on the Auschwitz sonderkommando, a unit of Jews at the death camp forced by the Nazis to help exterminate Jews.

The film opened briefly in Los Angeles just after Sept. 11; its ultimate release has been pushed back to next fall. Harvey Keitel, who plays the doctor on whose memoir the movie is based, is to be in Stony Brook opening night, along with writer-director Tim Blake Nelson, to introduce and, later, answer questions about the movie.

Keitel has assured Staller Center director Alan Inkles that he will be there because of the subject matter and his deep involvement in the film.

Keitel heads a cast that includes David Arquette, Steve Buscemi, Mira Sorvino and Daniel Benzali.

This year's festival, which runs for 11 days, through July 27, includes four other regional premieres, as well as 30 features and short films competing for awards voted on both by a jury and the audience. Several were made on or about Long Island, or include Islanders in the creative and production teams.

The premieres include "The Weight of Water," a dramatic thriller with Sean Penn and Elizabeth Hurley (July 18); "Bark," about a woman who decides she's a dog, with Heather Morgan, Lee Tergesen, Lisa Kudrow, Hank Azaria and Vincent D'Onofrio (July 23); "The Jimmy Show," a black comedy written and directed by star Frank Whaley, with Carla Gugino and Ethan Hawke (July 26), and "Pursuit of Happiness," a romantic comedy directed by John Putch, with Frank Whaley (again) and Annabeth Gish, closing the festival on July 27.

The films with local connections are "Mergers and Acquisitions" (July 19), shot partly in Huntington and Syosset; "Returning Mickey Stern" (July 22), shot on Fire Island; and "The Blue Lizard" (July 26), by Stony Brook alumnus Fred Carpenter, which is about and was shot at the Blue Lizard Lounge in Commack and the university campus.

Festival passes, admission to all films and panels, are $40; $10 additional for the closing night awards celebration. Call 631-632- ARTS; online at www.stonybrookfilmfestival.com.

Copyright © 2002, Newsday, Inc.

Lee Stollman (Steve's agent) set to Endeavor

HOLLYWOOD -- After 13 years with the William Morris Agency, tenpercenter Lee Stollman has joined Endeavor as an agent in the motion picture department. While at WMA, he represented both actors and directors, working closely with Chow Yun-Fat and Connie Nielsen, both of whom are expected to join Stollman at Endeavor.

Stollman is the agency's third major hire in the last 16 months, following Patrick Whitesell, who left CAA in February 2001, and John Lesher, who left UTA in February 2002.

At William Morris, Stollman also worked with such clients as Alan Arkin, Tom Arnold, Kevin Bacon, Lawrence Bender, Benjamin Bratt, Steve Buscemi, Terence Chang, Charles S. Dutton, Willem Dafoe, George Eads, Mathieu Kassovitz, Chris Klein, Ray Romano, John Stamos, Quentin Tarantino, Guillermo del Toro, John Travolta and John Woo.

"I had a great, great run at William Morris," said Stollman, "but I needed some new energy."

Endeavor partner Adam Venit said Stollman has "got a ton of experience, and most importantly, he's a nice guy who fits in with the culture here, which is team-oriented."

Date in print: Mon., Jun. 3, 2002

Steve was recently spotted taking his wife, Jo Andres, to dinner for her birthday at Hudson Cafeteria, a trendy NYC eatery, located inside the Hudson Hotel and then upstairs to a luxe penthouse suite for...uh, "dessert".

Concerts, and Theater and Commentary, Oh My!

The National Memorial Day Concert, before an audience of 200,000 on the West Lawn of the Capitol Building, aired live on PBS from 8-9:30 on Sunday, May 26. Walter C. Miller produced, and son Paul directed a show that had Ossie Davis as host and performances by Daniel Rodriguez of the NYPD, dueting with Charlotte Church, Tony Danza, Chicago, Heather Headley, Caitlin Wachs, the National Symphony Orchestra, readings by Charles Durning, Richard Schiff, Steve Buscemi and Mantegna, and appearances by toppers of all the services.

And...

Yes indeed, HBO has officially announced the DVD release of The Sopranos: The Complete Third Season for August 27th ($SRP 99.98). All 13 episode will be included in the 4-disc box set, in anamorphic widescreen video with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. Extras will include three exclusive audio commentaries delivered individually by writer/actor Michael Imperioli (Episode 9 - The Telltale Moozadell), episode director Steve Buscemi (Episode 11 - Pine Barrens) and series creator David Chase (Episode 12 - Amour Fou), a behind the scenes featurette (a day on the set of The Sopranos), recaps of seasons 1 & 2, episodic synopses, video previews and recaps, cast and crew bios and a web link.

The 2nd Annual Golden Age of Cinema Film Festival

Hellboy

The East Coast Premiere of Double Whammy

Attendees, including Steve, director Tom DiCillo, Jennifer Beals and Shannon Elizabeth hung out at the after-party held at the trendy club, The Cutting Room, owned by Chris Noth of "Sex and the City" fame.

Steve Mans Booth at Benefit Carnival for Pediatric Aids

Steve Buscemi (who manned the frisbee throw booth), Natalie Portman, Michael Douglas, Debra Messing, Richard Gere, Carmen Electra, Alex Kingston and Camryn Manheim were among celebs who helped raise money for pediatric AIDS research.

Central Park's Wollman skating rink was transformed into a flooded indoor carnival, with clowns, hot dogs, raffles and booths manned by celebs, who gamely trudged through muddy puddles -- many with their kids in tow.

The event helped to raise over $1.7 million for pediatric AIDS research.

Party Mode

SUCCESSFUL PRESENTATION OF THE FESTIVAL IN NEW YORK

As has become tradition in recent years, the San Sebastian International Festival held its presentation on 9th April in New York at a party thrown in the home of Olatz and Julian Schnabel with over 300 guests.

Representatives of the film industry, of independent cinema, of the specialized press and important well-known faces from the world of cinema and culture, all came along to New York's West Village for a drink with the Festival representatives. Present, among others, were: Michael Douglas, Harvey Keitel, Lauren Bacall, Al Pacino, Barbet Schroeder, Stephen Frears, Peter Boyle, Steve Buscemi, Michael Almereyda, Martin Bregman, Tom Dicillo, Dan Hedaya, Sara Driver, Barbara Kopple, Ray Loriga, Cristina Rosenvinge, Jaime Azpilicueta, Fred Schepisi, Thelma Schoonmaker and Juan Mari Arzak. Everyone enormously enjoyed the company and hospitality of the hosts, Olatz and Julian Schnabel.

On leaving they were all given a promotional video, together with the publication on last year's event; a taste of the atmosphere and an invitation to come along and join us in September, when the Festival will turn 50 years of age.

Spring Film Fests Bloom in the Big Apple

'Love' to launch N.Y.'s Gen Art fest

By LILY OEI

Opening-night film for the seventh annual Gen Art Film Festival will be tyro helmer Peter Mattei's "Love in the Time of Money." Pic, about unexpected relationships in Gotham, stars Steve Buscemi, Michael Imperioli and Rosario Dawson.

Running April 24-30, fest will feature seven features and several shorts selected from more than 600 submissions. Screenings will be held at the Sony Lincoln Square Theater and the Loews Cineplex 34th Street.

Each screening will conclude with an all-access after-party at a Gotham hot spot. This year's fest will include panels on the influence of music and fashion in film and television.

For more information on the festival, visit http://www.genart.org.

IN OTHER NEWS...

There is a good chance Steve will be a part of the debut of the Tribeca Film Festival taking place in NYC the first week of May. See http://www.tribecafilm.com for details.

The Indie Spirit Awards

NEWS FLASH Steve won! Yay! Clowes & Zwigoff also won for Best First Screenplay for Ghost World.

Indie pioneer and Buscemi friend, John Waters, hosted Saturday's show with his signature hilarious irreverence. During his opening monologue themed "Learn to Embrace Your Failures", John outlined some possible ways to perk up one's career by burning bridges. He suggested, "If you are typecast, change your image. Sissy Spacek, get exaggerated collagen lips. Steve Buscemi, be too tan for a year." In addition he advised, "Immediately after you star in a big Hollywood Blockbuster, go and play the lead in the porno knockoff version."

Steve was the first to receive an award that evening and chose to respond to his friend's suggestions in his acceptance speech...

Steve's Speech: "Thank you so much. I think I will take John's advice and try to get a tan and reconsider that offer I got for 'Goat World'. I'd like to thank Terry Zwigoff for his wonderful direction. I'd like to thank he and Dan Clowes for the incredible script that they wrote and for holding out for me to play the part. I'd like to thank the Mr. Mudd Group -- Leon Halfon, Russell Smith, John Malkovich. I'd like to thank the wonderful cast. Thora Birch, thank you so much, Scarlett Johansen, Stacy Travis and the whole cast. I'd like to thank Universal/UA for the support of the film -- Chris McKirk, Bingham Ray and everybody there. And thank you all so much. I really appreciate this. It's really an honor. Thank you so much."

Steve at the DGA Awards

March Calendar

March 4 - The New York premiere of The Laramie Project at the Loews Cineplex with an after party at the American Museum of Natural History. Steve & Jo did attend. Steve was wearing Prada.

March 9 - Both the premiere of The Laramie Project on HBO AND the Directors Guild of America Awards dinner. Remember, Steve is up for an award for directing the "Pine Barrens" episode of The Sopranos.

March 10 - Steve appears on the CBS special 9/11

March 18 - Steve's epidsode of Mad About You called "Token Friend" airs at 12:00 noon est on the Lifetime network.

March 23 - The Independant Spirit Awards will be given out from a tent on a beach in Santa Monica, CA. Steve's buddy, John Waters, is again this years master of ceremonies. Steve is up for Best Supporting Actor for Ghost World.

March 24 - The Oscars. Even though Steve wasn't nominated, he may still go since he would be in California anyway for the Spirit Awards the day before. As he did with Fargo, he might go to support both Monsters, Inc. which is up for Best Animated feature as well as Ghost World which is nominated in the Best Adapted Screenplay category.

VOTE FOR STEVE

As Buscemi fans, we have been invited to vote in a few Alternative-to-Oscar races: The Bikkies and the Chlotrudis Awards. To place your vote for Steve as Best Supporting Actor for 2001, go to http://www.chlotrudis.org/awards/ballot/ballot.html and http://www.bikkit.com/bikkit/content/bikkies.asp.

Chicago Film Critics Love Buscemi

The Academy Snub

Some fans have also been coping by noting that by not receiving the nomination, Steve retains his appeal as the quinessential underdog, who is always more fun to root for. And since Steve has never seemed to be the "woe-is me" type of guy or the type to covet awards, it makes it easier for us to deal with the setback.

We must remind ourselves that 2001 has still been a stellar year in Buscemi's career with kudos upon kudos for his performances as well as his directing work. And there are many years and many projects yet to come.

The New York Post

Steve Buscemi is the producer's first choice to play pioneering talk-show host Morton Downey Jr. (above) in a TV movie of his improbable stardom.

January 31, 2002 -- HEY, Steve Buscemi - how would you like to play Morton Downey Jr.? Buscemi - the goggle-eyed actor seen in such movies as "Fargo," "Armageddon" and "Trees Lounge" - is one of several names "being thrown around" to play Downey in a new made-for-TV movie, says the movie's producer, Chip Miller.

Other actors whom the producers would like to contact for the role are Bill Paxton, star of "Twister" and "A Simple Plan"; Dylan McDermott of "The Practice"; CBS sitcom star Ray Romano; and Will Ferrell of "Saturday Night Live."

The producers' attention has now turned to casting because a script for the movie was finally completed about 21/2 weeks ago after eight months of labor, says Miller, who wrote the story on which screenwriter Myron Goble has based his script.

Titled "Loudmouth," the movie will begin in 1980 with the funeral of Downey's famous father, Irish tenor Morton Downey Sr., although most of the telemovie will focus on Downey Jr.'s short but incendiary reign as the nation's most-talked-about TV personality. His infamous talk show, originating from WWOR/Ch. 9 in Secaucus, ran from late 1987 until early 1989.

The movie is being produced by Fox Television, a unit of Twentieth Century Fox that produces made-for-TV movies, under the supervision of the unit's top exec, David Madden.

Downey, who died last March of complications stemming from an ongoing battle with lung cancer, was aware that a movie on his life was being planned and he was interviewed extensively by Miller.

The movie is currently being shopped around and will likely wind up on a leading basic-cable channel.

Ah well, you probably know by now that Steve Boo-seh-mee (why can't they get his last name right?) didn't win the Golden Globe for BSA which went instead to Jim Broadbent for Iris -- one of tonight's many surprising choices by the HFPA. Steve was, however, a good-luck charm for his buddies Stanley Tucci (who won tonight for his role in Conspiracy) and Robert Altman (who won Best Director for Gosford Park).

Steve and Jo looked great. Here's hoping he has a chance to wear a tux to the Oscars! Photos will be posted on the site tomorrow.

A few interesting tidbits: Both 13 Moons and Love in the Time of Money were purchased for theatrical distribution by Lot 47 Films and new kid on the block, ThinkFilm, (headed by Mark Urman and Jeff Sackman, both formerly of Lions Gate) respectively.

If you live in the NY area and would like to be invited to a prescreening of 13 Moons, go to their website http://lot47.com and sign up for Club 47.

Amped up for 'Voltage'

"Gosford Park" director Robert Altman has set his next film, plugging into "Voltage," an adaptation of the Robert Grossbach novel "A Shortage of Engineers." The satiric comedy, which was adapted by Alan Rudolph, so far has a ensemble cast of Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Steve Buscemi, Bob Balaban, Harry Belafonte, William H. Macy, Tony Shalhoub, Elliott Gould and Liv Tyler.

Published last summer by St. Martin's Press, Grossbach's novel is set in 1991 and revolves around an engineering school graduate who goes to work for a defense firm. He's faced with impossible deadlines and specifications, bullying bosses and plenty of harried, quirky, engineer co-workers. Altman is setting the firm in suburban Long Island, and the tale visits the kind of satirically comedic turf prevalent in films such as "MASH" and "The Player."

Filming will begin in May in New York. "Voltage" doesn't yet have a distributor, but it is unclear whether Altman will seek out such a deal before he begins production on the film.

1/7/02, NEW YORK, Steve picked up an award for Best Supporting Actor (narrowly beating Ben Kingsley) from the New York Film Critics Circle for his performance as Seymour in Ghost World.

Film Critics Lavish Steve with Honors

Golden Globe Noms Inch Steve Closer to Oscar

Supporting Actor: Jim Broadbent, "Iris"; Steve Buscemi, "Ghost World"; Hayden Christensen, "Life as a House"; Ben Kingsley, "Sexy Beast"; Jude Law, "A.I. Artificial Intelligence"; Jon Voight, "Ali."

Actress, Musical or Comedy: Thora Birch, "Ghost World"; Cate Blanchett, "Bandits"; Nicole Kidman, "Moulin Rouge"; Reese Witherspoon, "Legally Blonde"; Renee Zellweger, "Bridget Jones's Diary."

The Hollywood Reporter

S.D. film critics a 'World' apart
By Gregg Kilday

Question: How does a film critics society distinguish itself from its peers?

Answer: By choosing a quirky movie that larger critics groups overlooked as the year's best picture. Witness the San Diego Film Critics Society, which has named United Artists' "Ghost World," director Terry Zwigoff's dark comedy about two disaffected high school girls, the best film of 2001.

To call "Ghost World," well-reviewed as it was, something of an underdog is an understatement. But in what would appear to be, at least in part, an attempt to separate itself from the film critics in New York and Los Angeles _ who distributed awards to "Mulholland Drive," "In the Bedroom" and "Gosford Park" _ the independent San Diegans lavished their awards on "Ghost World."

They also named Zwigoff the year's best director, hailed its star Thora Birch as best actress and honored Daniel Clowes, who wrote the screenplay based on his book, for best adapted screenplay.

In addition, the critics honored Steve Buscemi for his collective work during 2001, which included performances in "Monsters, Inc.," "Double Whammy," "Domestic Disturbance," "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" and, of course, "Ghost World."

Steve is Nominated for AFI Award

The American Film Institute (AFI) today announced nominations for the first annual AFI Awards 2001. The awards in 19 film and television categories will be presented on January 5, 2002 from the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California in a live, three-hour special on the CBS Television Network.

AFI Featured Actor of the Year -- Male

Steve Buscemi ... as Seymour in GHOST WORLD
Brian Cox ... as Big John Harrigan in L.I.E.
Gene Hackman ... as Royal Tenenbaum in THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS
Tony Shalhoub ... as Freddy Riedenschneider in THE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE

AFI Awards 2001 is the next chapter in AFI's national mandate -- the creation of an annual almanac that records and preserves the evolution of the moving image arts in the 21st century. Each year, AFI Awards will add another volume to the history of American film and television by documenting the collective opinion of the moving image communities, recognizing the year's most significant moments and honoring the individuals and collaborative teams who have created the year's outstanding achievements.

Presenters for AFI Awards 2001 -- who will each have AFI-Target scholarships established in their name -- include: Joan Allen, Alan Cumming, Dennis Franz, Rachel Griffiths, Steve Harris, Patricia Heaton, Samuel L. Jackson, Allison Janney, Eugene Levy, Joe Mantegna, Haley Joel Osment, Michelle Pfeiffer and James Woods. Additional presenters and the host for AFI Awards 2001 will be announced shortly.

AFI is the preeminent organization dedicated to advancing and preserving the art of film, television and other forms of the moving image. AFI trains the next generation of moving image artists, provides leadership in the nationwide film and television preservation effort and explores new technologies in the digital media arts. AFI also presents the best of film through the AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival and the AFI National Theater at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. More information about AFI can be found by visiting www.afionline.com.

Buscemi named Best Supporting Actor by the New York Film Critics Circle

The New York Film Critics Circle yesterday gave its award for best picture of 2001 to David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive," a mystery with a twist that he retooled from a television pilot.

The actor Todd Field's directorial debut, "In the Bedroom," was named best first feature, and its leads, Sissy Spacek and Tom Wilkinson, were chosen as best actress and actor. Best director was Robert Altman for "Gosford Park," which is to open on Dec. 26. It also received awards for best supporting actress, Helen Mirren, and best screenplay, by Julian Fellowes. Steve Buscemi was named best supporting actor for "Ghost World."

Wong Kar-Wei's "In the Mood for Love" received the awards for best foreign-language film and best cinematography, by Christopher Doyle and Mark Li Ping-bin. Best documentary was Agnes Varda's "Gleaners and I." Richard Linklater's computer-animated dreamscape "Waking Life" was given the award for best animated film.

The awards are to be presented on Jan. 6 at the Russian Tea Room. A donation on behalf of the critics' group was made to the Coalition for the Homeless, using money that would have gone to Windows on the World, where the ceremony was to have been held. The restaurant was destroyed in the attacks on Sept. 11.

Sundance Features Two New Buscemi Films

Opening-night attraction will be "The Laramie Project", an adaptation for HBO by Moises Kaufman of his Tectonic Theater Project legit piece about a theater troupe that travels to the Wyoming town to develop a play about the murder of Matthew Shepard. Pic's ensemble cast is headed by Steve Buscemi, Christina Ricci, Laura Linney, Jeremy Davies, Janeane Garofalo and Camryn Manheim.

"Love in the Time of Money", a reworking of Schnitzler's "Reigen" (La Ronde), a dark comedy about missed connections among contemporary New Yorkers, will be also be screened at the festival.

A first feature by Peter Mattei, starring Steve Buscemi, Rosario Dawson, Vera Farmiga, Malcolm Gets, Adrien Grenier, Jill Hennessy, Michael Imperioli and Carol Kane, the film will be presented out of competition as it was produced by Sundance topper Robert Redford's South Fork production company.

Behind the Scenes of Monsters Inc.

Where His Childhood Demons Hid: "Definitely under the bed. When I was young, I shared the bed with my two brothers, and we talked about monsters being under it. You'd be afraid to let your arm hang off--that was way too scary. I also remember being afraid of the headlights that came in through the window late at night, the way they would travel across the bed and up the walls and ceiling."

E! Looks Under the Bed of Monsters, Inc.

E! takes you into the incredibly creative world of Pixar for an inside look at how the magic is made. You'll learn all kinds of cool ghoul facts, like how they made the fur on the big blue guy, James P. Sullivan, look so lifelike. (Hint: He's got some 3 million individually rendered hairs blowin' in the animated wind.)

Daily Variety

BUSCEMI'S DOUBLE PLAY: Steve Buscemi has landed two prime jobs, one in front of and the other behind the camera. Buscemi will playing a mysterious character named Romero in "Spy Kids 2," which has begun production for Dimension with director Robert Rodriguez returning and the original cast reprising their crimefighting roles. While the character actor has been working at his usual prolific pace, he's also gaining steam behind the camera. He's been hired to direct the pilot for "Baseball Wives," a Levinson/Fontana series that HBO has been developing with "Oz" exec producer Tom Fontana, Julie Martin and Michelle Grace, the ex-wife of baseball star Mark Grace. The series will chronicle the behind the scenes drama in athlete's marriages. Buscemi, whose repped by AMG and WMA, previously worked for Fontana directing episodes of "Oz" and is currently up for an Emmy for directing "The Sopranos." He helmed the features "Trees Lounge" and "Animal Factory."
Click here for more on Steve in Spy Kids 2!

Newsday (New York, NY)

AMERICA'S ORDEAL

Millions were watching on VH1 when Michael Moran took the stage at the star-studded benefit concert for New York City Saturday night, but the Queens firefighter had a personal message for only one man.

After he was introduced by actor Michael J. Fox, Moran gave a piece of his mind to terrorist suspect Osama bin Laden.

"In the spirit of the Irish people, Osama bin Laden, you can kiss my royal Irish ass," Moran said to tumultuous cheers from the Madison Square Garden audience. Moran, 38, said his neighbors "inspired" him to send that message to bin Laden.

"I was using as genteel language as I could," he told Newsday yesterday about his nationally broadcast remarks.

Before he walked onstage, Moran also solicited opinions from his actor friend, Steve Buscemi, as well as Adam Sandler, on whether his message was appropriate.

"I asked those two guys if I could get away with saying that on television," Moran said yesterday. "They laughed and said definitely."

The Far Rockaway firefighter said he didn't remember the loud cheers from the audience made up of 6,000 firefighters, police officers and other emergency workers.

"To tell you the truth, by the time I walked on the stage, I was just looking for my girlfriend. My ears were just kind of blanked out," said Moran. "I didn't hear a thing."

Moran shared the stage with such superstars as David Bowie, Mick Jagger and Billy Joel. His connection to the terror attacks was very personal.

His older brother, Battalion Chief John Moran, 42, was killed in the Twin Towers collapse. Twelve of his fellow firefighters at Ladder 3 in lower Manhattan were also killed.

Moran's comments also received loud cheers from a prominent cousin on Capitol Hill, Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Flushing).

"My cousin spoke from his heart. He was at Ground Zero a lot of times looking for his brother and I think a lot of brothers would feel the same way," Crowley, 39, said yesterday. "He told it like it is."

Crowley said he will miss his cousin, John, with whom he spent a lot of time as a child and later, while practicing the guitar.

"When my cousin John was killed, my cousin Mike said I'm now his older brother," Crowley said. "That's how close we are."

Steve lends a hand with his camcorder at Denis Leary's Celebrity Hat Trick

So, my family and I just came back from the Denis Leary Firefighters Foundation Celebrity Hat Trick Benefit game at the Centrum in Worcester, Massachusetts. We saw Steve! He was there to "coach" (lend his support) to this worthy cause. On the ice were 2 hockey teams made up of well known Boston Bruin alumni like Cam Neely and Ray Bourke vs. celeb all-stars like Michael J. Fox, Senator Kerry, Denis Leary, Scott Wolf and Bobby Farrelly (Keifer Sutherland was a no show).

Okay, so you want to know about Steve? He looked great, dressed in a black suit and black shirt, no tie, clean shaven, hair was a bit on the longish side. He was there with his son Lucian who seemed to be enjoying the game. Both of them bounced a little to the music when it played over the PA. Steve didn't do much coaching (if any at all). He mostly just filmed the game with his little hand-held digital camcorder. It reminded me a lot of that pic of him with the camera from In the Soup :). He didn't seem to hobnob with Liz Hurley much except he helped her get out onto the ice (she was wearing 4" spike heels!).

After the game, Steve signed a few autographs. People were throwing their programs over the plastic partition to him. He was very gracious and kind to the fans. After he attended the post-benefit banquet with all the other celebs, sponsors and guests.

To contribute to the Denis Leary Firefighters Foundation, please visit http://www.learyfirefighters.org.

Steve is going to be at another benefit in NY on 10/15. We hope to be able to go and have more of a chance to chat.

We love you Steve! Thanks so much for all your efforts to support your extended firefighter family.

Steve celebrates the lives of those lost and Lennon

"Many years ago I had the profound priviledge of serving as a New York City firefighter with a company, second to none, Engine 55. That company lost four of its finest men on September 11, 2001. I was honored to work along side these real life heros then. Today, I am in awe of their bravery. We must never forget that all the firefighters, police and rescue workers we lost on that day were real people with real lives and real families of their own. Despite that, and in spite of all the danger, the overwhelming fear that they surely must have felt and had to overcome, they put their own lives on the line to help."

"John Lennon, too, was a real person, not just some rock idol we imagine him to be. He made mistakes, just like the rest of us, and to his credit, John was usually first to highlight his own, very human flaws. Unlike most of us, however, he managed to turn his less than perfect qualities into perfect art. One such song is 'Jealous Guy'. To perform this song tonight, here's a man who has long been one of rock's most unflinching artists, Lou Reed!"

HBO Telefilm Laramie Project screened in Boston

Steve to attend benefit for firefighter's families 10/15

Expected to attend "New York's Bravest" at The Park (118 10th Ave.) is the entire cast of "The Sopranos," Harrison Ford, Steve Buscemi, "The Producers" stars Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick and many more celebs including Julianne Moore, Uma Thurman, Penny Marshall, John Leguizamo and a "surprise" guest. All proceeds will be donated to The Fund for New York's Bravest.

There will also be a guitar signed by Sting, a kissing booth with top models, a silent auction of paintings done by children of N.Y. firefighters (the theme: "Why My Father is a Hero") and specially designed "In Memory" rings from Loree Rodkin.

D'Arbanville's ex-husband, Terry Quinn, is a New York firefighter. Highly decorated Capt. Patrick Brown from Rescue 3 - who was among those lost at the WTC - was the godfather of their son, Liam Quinn.

"Patrick was one of the most highly decorated firefighters in the city and was loved by everyone - on the job and off," says D'Arbanville. "He was fearless, and was an absolute hero in every sense of the word."

Leary, whose cousin is a firefighter, established the Leary Firefighters Foundation in 1999 to benefit the families of six firefighters who lost their lives. Leary's foundation was able to hand a $1 million check to each of those families.

"We want to be able to hand a check to each of the families of the 353 firefighters who lost their lives," D'Arbanville says.