OMC: When you grow up in a place like the Bronx, I would think generally it's a badge of honor. But on the other hand, do you ever feel defensive about the reputation of the Bronx?

Palminteri: I get defensive about people who think that everyone from the Bronx who's Italian is in the mob. I was never in the mob, I was a good guy, I didn't do that sort of stuff. Many Italian-Americans are good people, working people. Do I get offended when people think that because my last name ends in a vowel that I'm in the mob, yeah.

OMC: The young actor who starred in the movie version of "A Bronx Tale" is now serving a prison sentence for burglary. What do you remember about Lillo Brancato?

CP: He was an incredibly talented young man. He had been discovered by producers hanging out on the beach. He had the gift, he had all these wonderful things given to him and he got involved with drugs. That's it; he ruined it. I warned him over the years when I'd run into him. But you know if I had to look at some good that comes out of this (it) is that I hold him up as a poster child for other kids. When I give lectures to some of these kids I tell them 'Look at Lillo Brancato. He was in the quintessential movie about not wasting your life. And that's exactly what he did. And why? Because he didn't listen to the words that he said (in the movie)."

OMC: Your role in Woody Allen's "Bullets over Broadway" seemed to be a great example of breaking out of stereotype. It's a novel twist -- you play a wise guy who discovers he has a talent for playwriting and theater. Is that what appealed to you about taking that part?

CP: Definitely, that was the whole thing. I played a guy who grew up in the streets of New York and had a talent for theater. And that's what made it so interesting. I mean that's me, it was me.

OMC: Still stinging from losing out to Martin Laundau for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 1994?

CP: He's a great actor who's done great work for many years. And I thought he was fabulous for the role (in the movie "Ed Wood"). He deserved it. I mean look, I was up against Samuel Jackson for "Pulp Fiction" and Gary Sinise in "Forrest Gump." Any one of us could have won it, and I thought it would have been OK. But Marty won it, and God bless him, he deserves it.

OMC: I have to say -- I'm shocked that you were never in "The Sopranos!"

CP: I think the only two Italian-American actors who were never in "The Sopranos" were me and John Turturro, we used to laugh about that. For whatever reason, you know I was making movies, that's how it worked out I guess.

OMC: Do you think you'll ever see a script with a plot as complex as "The Usual Suspects?"

CP: I don't know, that was a great script. I remember reading it and just saying "My God, this is so different." I mean look, did I know it was going to be classic? Of course not. Did I know it was great? Yeah. I thought, "Well, if the director can somehow manage to do this it could be great." We had an incredibly brilliant young kid named Brian Singer, it was only his first big movie. And he did an outstanding job and it was a great script.

OMC: What does making it big in Hollywood do to old friendships? What's it like to be nominated for an Oscar, and then run into say old friends from the Bronx, or a friend who is still a struggling actor?

CP: You know what, it matters how you are. If you're comfortable with who you are, it absolutely does nothing. I mean, I grew up with my friends, I go back to the neighborhood, or I go back to visit their homes, a lot of them live in Westchester, and things are still the same. If you're comfortable, and you know who you are, then you don't change. A lot of these people they become stars and try to change to be that person. Just be yourself, that's the way I am and it works out OK.

OMC: If a studio gave you the money to do any type of movie you wanted, what's an untold story you'd like to tell?

CP: Yeah, there are a couple things that I'm writing now, but I can't talk about them. I'd like to get the money for it. We'll see, who knows, I have to get the money first, but we'll see.

OMC: OK, then how about a particular role you'd like to play that you haven't done before?

CP: I haven't been a priest yet and I really want to do that. I'm a Catholic and religion is very important to me.

OMC: Your next movie coming out called "Hollywood and Wine" was written and directed by Kevin Farley, who went to Marquette University here in Milwaukee.

CP: Kevin Farley is just a very talented young actor, a terrific director. I had a great time working with him. I enjoyed working on the movie, it was fun. You know I do a lot of serious movies, so it was fun working with comedians. It's a talented family there. Chris (Farley, Kevin's brother) was a hell of a talent.

OMC: Well Kevin and Chris both went to Marquette. If you see Kevin at the premiere, ask him about naked beer slides. That was the big tradition when the Farley brothers were at Marquette in the '80s.

CP: Naked beer slides? All right I will.