chaz palminteri

:::Synopsis
Robert DeNiro stars in his directorial debut as Lorenzo Anello, a dutiful father and blue-collar bus driver from the harsh New York City borough of the Bronx whom tries desperately to keep his son Calogero from surrendering to the temptation of organized crime. When Calogero witnesses Mafia kingpin Sonny (Chaz Palminteri) commit murder, he decides to honor the 'code of the streets' and offers no information to the cops when interrogated. Consequently, a friendship is forged between Sonny and Calogero, and--against his father's wishes--the young man joins the Mafia. Calogero respects his father, though can not seem to shake his new lifestyle, but when push comes to shove it is his father who must confront the mob and save his son's life, leaving Calogero to re-examine the magnitude of his father's honest work ethics.
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Jade (1995)

Genre: Drama
Starring: David Caruso, Linda Fiorentino, Chazz Palminteri, Michael Biehn, Richard Crenna
Director: William Friedkin
Release Date: October 13, 1995

:::Synopsis
Assistant D.A. David Corelli (David Caruso) is trapped between friendship and the law when the brutal murder of an important San Franciso millionaire points toward his former lover and college friend, Trina Gavin (Linda Fiorentino), a beautiful woman with a mysterious alter ego. As details of the murder victim's sexual escapades emerge, Corelli uncovers evidence that the victim was blackmailing a powerful politician with incriminating photographs. But as the crucial witnesses are systematically murdered and attempts on Corelli's life are made, the case assumes a paranoid veneer in which nothing is certain and no one can be trusted. Set against a backdrop of the immaculate mansions of the San Francisco wealthy with a decorative fetish for the ancient Far East and contrasted with a classic Friedkin chase scene through the city's Chinatown, JADE is a lush, dark, and suspenseful sexual thriller from the writer of BASIC INSTINCT that will keep the audience guessing until the very last scene.
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The Usual Suspects (1995)

Genre: Drama and Crime/Gangster
Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Spacey, Stephen Baldwin, Chazz Palminteri, Kevin Pollak
Director: Bryan Singer

:::Synopsis
Director Bryan Singer's labyrinthine crime drama centers on five career criminals (played by Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Spacey, Benicio Del Toro, Kevin Pollak, and Stephen Baldwin) who meet after being rounded up for a standard police line-up. Upon their release, the men band together to pull off an intricate heist involving $3 million worth of emeralds. Their success brings them to the attention of the enigmatic Keyser Soze, an unseen, nefarious, and mythic underworld crime figure who coerces them into pulling off an important and highly dangerous job. The scenes that follow make THE USUAL SUSPECTS one of the most fascinating crime thrillers in cinema history.

Working from the Oscar-winning screenplay by Christopher McQuarrie, Singer adroitly tells the complex story through flashbacks, cross-cutting, and voice-over narration. Such nimble handling of the intricacies of the nonlinear narrative adds to the suspense, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats until the clever, satisfying finale. Singer� expertise in the technical aspects of filmmaking--his use of a dioptic filter to keep two close-up faces in focus, as well as his inventive use of six-frame step printing--helped him earn his reputation as a visually impressive and stylish director. Filled with excellent performances from veteran actors (Kevin Spacey won his first Academy Award for his breakthrough role as Verbal Kint), THE USUAL SUSPECTS placed Singer squarely on the cinematic map.
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Diabolique (1996)

Genre: Drama
Starring: Sharon Stone, Chazz Palminteri, Isabelle Adjani, Kathy Bates
Director: Jeremiah Chechik

:::Synopsis
In this remake of the French classic, the wife of an abusive school headmaster joins forces with his mistress to do away with him. However, something goes wrong, and the two begin to get the feeling that their victim may not really be dead. When a private investigator becomes involved, the thread begins to unravel.
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Faithful (1996)

Genre: Comedy
Starring: Allison Janney, Cher, Chazz Palminteri, Ryan O'Neal, Paul Mazursky
Director: Paul Mazursky
Release Date: April 03, 1996

:::Synopsis
Director Paul Mazursky's dark comedy, adapted from the play by actor Chazz Palminteri, stars Cher as Margaret, a rich and dissatisfied Westchester wife who is so neglected by her philandering and unfaithful husband, Jack (Ryan O'Neal), that she's considering suicide on the night of their 20th wedding anniversary. Things change, however, when she encounters Tony (Palminteri), a brooding, neurotic hit man hired by Jack to kill her while he's away with his office fling (Amber Smith). Tony barges into their expansive mansion and attacks Margaret, tying her up and informing her of the job he's been hired to do. But Tony has been instructed to wait for Jack's signal--the phone will ring twice--and while they wait the pair becomes embroiled in a witty and clever conversation covering a wide range of topics and revealing each other's hidden insecurities and faults. In the process, Tony and Margaret become strangely attracted to each other, drastically altering the outcome of Jack's devious plan. Almost all the action takes place within the walls of Margaret and Jack's home, recalling the film's theatrical origins and intensifying the mood and heightened tension between the killer and his target. Mazursky himself appears as Tony's therapist in this delightful combination of mystery, thriller, and romantic comedy.
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Analyze This (1999)

Genre: Comedy, Crime/Gangster
Starring: Billy Crystal, Lisa Kudrow, Robert De Niro, Joe Viterelli, Chazz Palminteri
Director: Harold Ramis
Release Date: March 5, 1999

:::Synopsis
What happens when the worlds of the Mafia and psychiatry collide? This outrageous farce answers that question, as mob boss Paul Vitti (Robert De Niro) and psychiatrist Ben Sobol (Billy Crystal) are forced to work together. When a prominent leader of the New York Mafia suddenly starts having panic attacks, he enlists the help of a New York psychiatrist for a fast cure. The two men suddenly find themselves struggling to understand each other's professional and private lives as they battle the FBI and the impending threat of a Mafia takeover, not to mention an irritable fianc� (Lisa Kudrow) eager to get married.
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Excellent Cadavers (1999)

Genre: Drama and Crime/Gangster
Starring: Chazz Palminteri, F. Murray Abraham, Anna Galiena
Director: Ricky Tognazzi

:::Synopsis
Late 1980's and early 1990's witness a political battle against the Mafia in Sicily. Giovanni Falcone (Chazz Palminteri), a loyal prosecutor, works with a former mobster (F. Murray Abraham) who volunteers to turn state's evidence after his sons are killed by a renegade mob chief. Falcone uses money trails as a way to attack the mobsters.
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Poolhall Junkies (2003)

Genre: Drama
Starring: Christopher Walken, Michael Rosenbaum, Alison Eastwood, Chazz Palminteri, Mars Callahan
Director: Mars Callahan
Release Date: February 28, 2003 .

:::Synopsis
Obsessed by the world of pool, Johnny (Callahan) could be one of the best. But his mentor and 'trainer' Joe (Palminteri), a shady hustler who decides how and who Johnny plays, is holding him back from his dream. When the day finally comes, Johnny breaks from Joe, which leads to only one thing - violence. Joe is beaten up by some of Johnny's buddies as a sign to leave him alone, and with this final act of freedom, Johnny leaves the world of pool-sharking. After an ultimatum from his girlfriend Tara (Eastwood), Johnny finally commits to a 'real' job in the construction business, but is soon miserable there. He finds himself spending most of his time with his younger brother Danny (Rosenbaum) who it seems is following in his footsteps on the road to a life Johnny left when he broke from Joe. As for Joe, he is bent on revenge for the beating he took, and soon he has a new protege Brad (Schroder) who is just as good if not better than Johnny. And he's got his eye on Johnny's brother. The two play a high-stakes game of pool which ends in a huge debt owed to Joe and soon Johnny finds that his brother is in jail for trying to steal the money he owes. The only way out for Johnny is to play Brad, which results in a 'race to nine' showdown that pits two of the greatest players against each other for large sums of money, and Johnny and Danny's lives.
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Noel (2004)

Genre: Drama
Starring: Paul Walker, Penelope Cruz, Susan Sarandon, Alan Arkin, Chazz Palminteri
Director: Chazz Palminteri
Release Date: November 12, 2004

:::Synopsis
An all-star cast, featuring Oscar winner Susan Sarandon, Penelope Cruz, Paul Walker and Oscar nominee Alan Arkin, delivers the true spirit of the holiday season in an inspiring, contemporary story of hope, forgiveness, love and redemption. It� Christmas eve in New York, and, with a little help from each other, five people will discover new meaning on Christmas day. As Jules (Marcus Thomas) finds the courage to step beyond his past, Artie� (Alan Arkin) own tragic history shows Mike (Paul Walker) where jealousy can lead, bringing renewal to Mike� relationship with Nina (Penelope Cruz). Meanwhile, Rose (Susan Sarandon) discovers new hope as Charlie ?an unexpected friend ?reminds her that no one is ever truly alone at Christmas. With a stunning backdrop created by Oscar winning cinematographer Russell Carpenter (�itanic? and an emotionally gripping score composed by multiple Oscar winning composer Alan Menken (�laddin,?�eauty and the Beast,?�he Little Mermaid?, NOEL is sure to become a holiday classic.
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Dying for Dolly (2005)

Genre: Comedy and Musical
Starring: Usher Raymond, Anthony Fazio, Chazz Palminteri, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Matt Gerald
Director: Ron Underwood

:::Synopsis
When New York� hottest nightclub deejay Darrell (Usher) saves a mob boss's life (Chazz Palminteri), he is rewarded for his bravery with the job of watching over the don's beautiful daughter Dolly (Emmanuelle Chriqui). The sparks soon begin to fly between this attractive couple from very different worlds, against her formidable father� wishes. The don, however, has other things on his mind�uashing a potential war with an arch-rival and controlling a young, ruthless challenger to his throne. In the end, all's fair in love and gangster warfare in this hip romantic comedy, DYING FOR DOLLY. Directed by Ron Underwood and produced by John Dellaverson, the film� executive producers include Bill Borden, Usher Raymond and Holly Davis-Carter.
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In the Mix (2005)

Genre: Comedy and Musical
Starring: Emmanuelle Chriqui, Usher Raymond, Anthony Fazio, Chazz Palminteri, Matt Gerald
Director: Ron Underwood
Release Date: November 23, 2005

:::Synopsis
When New York's hottest nightclub deejay Darrell (Usher) saves a mob boss's life (Chazz Palminteri), he is rewarded for his bravery with the responsibility of watching over the don's beautiful daughter Dolly (Emmanuelle Chriqui). The sparks soon begin to fly between this attractive couple from very different worlds, against her formidable father's wishes. Meanwhile, the don has other things on his mind-quashing a potential war with an arch-rival and controlling a young, ruthless challenger to his throne. In the end, all's fair in love and gangster warfare in this hip, romantic comedy.
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Running Scared (2006)

Genre: Actiom, Crime, Drama and Thriller
Starring: Cameron Bright, Elizabeth Mitchell, Paul Walker, Vera Farmiga, Chazz Palminteri
Director: Wayne Kramer
Release Date: February 24, 2006

:::Synopsis
Low-level mob hand and loving family man Joey Gazelle (Walker) finds his life turned upside-down when he ignores the mob� instructions to dispose of a gun used in the fatal shooting of a corrupt cop during a bungled drug buy. After stowing the gun in his basement for future use as collateral against his employers, his son� best friend, Oleg (Bright), discovers and steels the weapon to shoot his abusive stepfather, the black sheep of the Russian mob. Setting off a wild chase from both the mob and a corrupt cop who is hell-bent on profiting from the missing gun, Joey embarks on a chilling, bloody pursuit, maneuvering his way through a horrific web of criminals on a frantic night-long search, to locate Oleg, retrieve the gun and make it home to his family ?alive.
Five Towns College in Dix Hills will award honorary doctorate degrees to five entertainment industry figures, including the late Sammy Cahn, songwriter Hal David and actor Ben Vereen.

The public is invited to the entertainment industry awards event, to be held on Wednesday, Oct. 17, at noon, at the college's Dix Hills Center for the Performing Arts, 305 North Service Rd. A previous award winner, Broadway composer Charles Strouse ("Bye Bye Birdie," "Applause," "Annie") will also be in attendance.

The winners are:




Lyricist Sammy Cahn (1913-1993), who won four Academy Awards for his songs -- "Three Coins in the Fountain," "All the Way," "High Hopes" and "Call Me Irresponsible." He won an Emmy for "Love and Marriage." Among his many other well-known songs are "Bei Mir Bist du Schoen" and "Come Fly With Me."

Lyricist Hal David, who often teamed with composer Burt Bacharach and singer Dionne Warwick. Among his best-known songs: "What the World Needs Now is Love," "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head," "I'll Never Fall in Love Again," "Wishin' and Hopin'," "Alfie," "What's New Pussycat."

Irwin Z. Robinson, chairman of Paramount Allegra Music, Paramount Bella Music and Paramount Simpatico Music. Earlier, he was chairman and CEO of The Famus Music Publishing Companies, then a division of Paramount Pictures. An attorney, he is chairman of the board of the National Music Publishers' Association and the Harry Fox Agency.

Broadway producer Stewart F. Lane, a four-time Tony Award winner, as a producer of "Jay Johnson: The Two and Only," "Thoroughly Modern Millie," "The Will Rogers Follies" and "La Cage Aux Folles." He has won numerous other awards, and also directed productions, including "Final Appeal" with Chaz Palminteri and Stephen Baldwin. He is co-owner of the Palace Theatre on Broadway and a parter in the Tribeca Grill Restaurant with Robert DeNiro.

Broadway star Ben Vereen, an actor, singer and dancer who persevered even after a near-fatal auto accident in 1992. He played Chicken George, an ancestor of Alex Haley, in TV's "Roots." He won a Tony Award for his role as The Leading Player in "Pippin," and was nominated for his role in "Jesus Christ Superstar." His films include "Funny Lady" and "All That Jazz."