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Steve Buscemi is one of the great character actors working today. He has a face and voice as instantly recognizable as any leading man's. Buscemi has made a twenty-plus-year career, out of being a go to actor that has consistently given strong if not brilliant performances in the many films he's done. Though he has been in many remarkable films, and a few questionable ones, and everyone undoubtedly has there favorites, my personal picks are Donny Kerabatsos in The Big Lebowski, Tommy in Trees Lounge, and Pierre Peders in Interview.

The Big Lebowski is probably one of the biggest cult films in the world. The movie has been the inspiration for articles, books, bowling parties, and a million Halloween costumes. Buscemi's performance as the meek but lovable Donny is one of the highlights of the film. Buscemi's handling of his role as quiet straight man to Jeff Bridges, The Dude, and John Goodman's, Walter Sobchak, was done so well the when the character dies of a heart attack near the end of the film, the loss felt is greater than that ever felt for a character with less than ten lines of dialogue.

Trees Lounge (1996) was written, directed, starred Steve Buscemi. His portrayal as hapless, but lovable alcoholic loser Tommy is both sympathetic and empathetic and yet at times infuriating. Since this film was an essentially plot-less character piece, it makes Buscemi's job as lead actor all the more difficult because if his performances were to have suffered, or become boring at any point the movie is lost. Luckily for himself and us, he did a fantastic job.

In 2007, Steve Buscemi remade Theo Van Gogh's film Interview. Buscemi plays political journalist/war correspondent Pierre Peders who is sent to interview B-movie actress/TV star Katya, played by Sienna Miller. This film is all about acting range. Since ninety-five percent of the movie is Buscemi and Miller alone in a loft, the film is carried by dialogue and character development. Both Buscemi and Miller give remarkable and complex performances in what turns into a long an vicious mind game. I really enjoyed Buscemi in this role because if gave me a chance to see his range as an actor. He starts off as a pretentious snob, then over the course of the film some of the barriers come down and he becomes sympathetic and likable, in the end he becomes a sleaze bag. What was difficult about his character, and also shows Buscemi's skill as an actor is that even though he ends up being a jerk, you can't help but still feel sorry for him.

Over his twenty-five year career, Steve Buscemi has played many great characters, though you may not agree with my favorites, I think we can all agree that he is a remarkable talent. Some of his other great roles include Mr. Pink in Reservoir Dogs, Carl Showalter in Fargo, and Les Galantine in Delirious. A full list of Steve Buscemi's work as actor, writer, and director can be found at his Imdb page.

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