Las Vegas Weekly

Sarah Silverman steals CineVegas opening night

Sarah Silverman at CHI Theater in Planet Hollywood.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Sarah Silverman may have had a supporting role in CineVegas opening night film Saint John of Las Vegas, but that didn’t stop the hilarious actress-comedian from stealing the show out on the red carpet.

The film’s star, Steve Buscemi, was notably absent from last night’s screening at Planet Hollywood.

“Steve’s hot sh*t right now,” Silverman explained, noting her costar’s busy schedule. “He wanted to come,” she said.

Buscemi has a variety of projects on the go, including Jerry Bruckheimer 3-D action flick G-Force, due out next month, and a grand total of six movies due out this year.

Silverman said she enjoyed working with the veteran actor.

“He’s … a real actor’s actor kind of guy,” she said. “He hung out after dinner and he was really silly.”

Saint John of Las Vegas’ other major star, Romany Malco (The Love Guru, Weeds, 40 Year Old Virgin), also walked last night’s red carpet, but it was Silverman who captured the spotlight and the attention of fans.

After the screening, she mused over the differences between Malco’s on-camera and off-camera eating habits.

“It was crazy seeing Romany eating Twinkies and smoking cigarettes (in the movie) because, like, his body is a temple,” Silverman said. “It was very exiting to see that on camera.”

Meanwhile, the 38-year-old said it was “horrifying” to see herself on camera.

Silverman plays Buscemi’s quirky, smiley love interest in the film. She described the character as the one who brings some “zen” to Buscemi’s unlucky on-screen persona, a compulsive gambler.

Other stars on the carpet last night included CineVegas’ creative advisory board chairman Dennis Hopper, who opted to cut his time on the carpet short; actress Aviva (Superbad) and already accomplished, up-and-coming actor Jesse Garcia (Quinceañera).

The film’s producer, Marc Burman, and director and co-writer Hue Rhodes were also there, as was CineVegas’ artistic director, Trevor Groth.

The omnipresent Holly Madison – who will soon take to the stage in the very theater used for last night’s screening and assume Kelly Monaco’s role in Peepshow – also put in an appearance, as did the cast of Jersey Boys, incoming Imperial Palace headliners Human Nature, Carrot Top and Miss Nevada USA, Georgina Vaughan, among others.

Many of the VIPs mixed and mingled with other members of the CineVegas crowd after the screening at the official afterparty and opening night soirée at Privé.

The 11th annual CineVegas Film Festival continues now through Monday. While the majority of screenings and events take place at the Palms, a complete guide to the festival, its events and corresponding parties can be found here.