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Steve Buscemi is what most people refer to as a character actor. Many would recognize his face as someone they had seen in other great movies but few people outside of movie enthusiasts would even know his name. Despite this he has put in many great performances over the years in some classic films.

One of my favorite performances of his came in one of the worst movies he appeared in, Tales From the Darkside. In this anthology movie he plays Bellington, a reclusive genius with a deep passion for ancient artifacts. Lot 249 is the name of the story he appears in and it is the only good one in an otherwise forgettable film. He was excellent here and if you can even tolerate horror and like his work as an actor I highly recommend it.

One of the better movies he was in was Miller's Crossing, directed by the Coen Brothers. However his part in this was so small that it is hard to even judge.

Then he made Reservoir Dogs. This is a truly iconic performance. He plays Mr. Pink... and his reaction to the name he is given is hilarious. He also has some very interesting and surprisingly logical arguments against tipping. This is undoubtedly one of Buscemi's landmark roles.

Thing to Do in Denver When You're Dead is another great performance by him. In this one he plays an assassin called upon to kill all the main characters. He is like death itself, never speaking but acting a great deal with his eyes and body. It is brilliant and something different from an actor with quite a wide range.

In Con Air he plays a similar role. This time, however, he speaks, and our stomachs churn at some of the lines he delivers. He is truly chilling here. And notice a similarity between the fate of this character and that of Mr. Pink in Reservoir Dogs.

The Big Lebowski is another classic Coens Brothers movie that he is in where he plays a minor role. He hardly speaks and is always cut off by Walter (played by John Goodman). The role does not ask for much but he does what is required.

For a greater challenge to his talents view the movie he made a few years before, Fargo. In this he plays a lowlife kidnapper who never shuts up. This contrasts with his partner and really tests him as an actor. It is certainly one of his top three performances, and the fate he meets at the end of this film will live inside your mind forever.

Even though most critics hated the movie Armageddon, I thought his work here was the high point. In this movie he plays a drilling expert who ends up going to space to save the world from an asteroid about to hit. The thing is, sometime along the way he goes crazy. Completely nuts. Sane and insane he is the best part of this movie. I would recommend it just based on the merit of his performance.

Steve Buscemi is one of the most underrated actors working in Hollywood today. He makes unconventional choices and then makes them work. He has great range and taste in the scripts he chooses and because of these traits I suspect he will be around for a long time to come... even if no one knows about it.

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