Sarah Silverman steals CineVegas red carpet

By Melissa Arseniuk (contact)

Thursday, June 11, 2009 | 6:48 a.m.

Justin M. Bowen

Sarah Silverman, who has a minor role in the film “Saint John of Las Vegas,” stole the red carpet show Wednesday night at CineVegas opening festivities at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.

Sarah Silverman may have had a minor role in “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 another film, the 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 Buscemi.

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

While “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, it was Silverman who captured the spotlight and attention of onlooking 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; mononymous actress Aviva (“Superbad”); and already accomplished, yet 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 Wednesday 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.

Melissa Arseniuk writes about Las Vegas entertainment and celebrity events. She can be reached at 702-948-7823 or by e-mail at melissa.arseniuk@lasvegassun.com.