Ben’s new film wore him out

HOIST your behind, kick the TV and go see Warners’ old-style shoot-’em-up gangster flick “Live by Night.” About hooch, moonshine, molls, outlaws, the roaring ’20s. We’re talking a sort of “Bonnie and Clyde” on amphetamine.

Ben Affleck produced, wrote, directed, stars and probably’s selling the theater popcorn. Directing must help close-ups because he’s so handsome in this, either Vaseline’s on the lens or across every flexible part of his body. Affleck: “This was a book, which Leonardo DiCaprio’s company bought. He loved it and sent it to me. We shot in Georgia because of their tax rebate, LA since the topography doubled for Tampa, where scenes were set, and Boston.”

So is he good in it? “I don’t want to blow my own horn . . . but . . . I’m all right . . . Look, this isn’t ‘Argo.’ I don’t want to please that crowd. It’s no Oscar blockbuster. It’s a terrific film, where actors don’t have to wear a cape.

“Directing a film’s great. It’s authorship. Being in charge. You rise and fall on your taste. The reward is and can’t be undermined — you get to be boss.”

Kid brother Casey’s a maybe awardee for “Manchester by the Sea.” How will mama Affleck feel with multiple Wake up, Ben Affleck! “Live by Night” co-star Sienna Miller is ready for a photo! Oscars in her kitchen?

The evenly paced practiced reply: “I’ll be thrilled, and so will she.” Sienna Miller, even prettier than Affleck in her snug snug Proenza Schouler knit, “I play Irish immigrant Emma. It’s gangsters on the run. A great old-fashioned story of the Prohibition era. “Want to know something? My first screen test 13 years ago — I was 21, never been to LA — was with Ben Affleck. The film was ‘Paycheck.’ I didn’t get the job. But we know each other since then and until now never worked together.

“I haven’t a big enough part in this film so I’ll watch it alone another time. Tonight while it’s on I’ll go eat Italian food. Catch up with my gang. See, I just love doing New York. I live here. Can’t imagine myself ever living anywhere else. Here a person can speak three words, like ... ‘gimme a taxi’ ... and you know he’s a New Yorker. A guy barely speaks English and he’ll say, ‘I yom a Noo Yorker.’ Everyone here’s welcome. That’s why I love New York.” Chris Cooper: “I play Irving Figgis, Tampa’s chief of police. No good guy or bad guy. He knows he can’t stop the alcohol, but he keeps the peace in his multiracial, multiethnic part of town. I’m not drinking in the film. But for real I definitely like my scotch.” (More about Chris and Elle Fanning next week.)

YESTERDAY’S Police Athletic League lunch had Dinkins who was mayor, Catsimatidis who’s looking to be mayor, Bo Dietl who itches to be mayor, Tony Danza who played Mayor La Guardia onstage plus de Blasio the Bill of the ball, who told NYPD Commish James O’Neill: “Forget security. Nobody’s protected from Cindy Adams.”

DA Cy Vance and GOP biggie Ed Cox properly laughed, then Himself said: “I know I’m not as funny as MC Mark Simone.” Yeah, right. I asked how he’s handling his lousy p.r. Answer: “It’s a pain. Hurts. But I can’t cry. No surprise, however. That’s how it is. It’s New York.”

The doings. Then the FDNY commissioner left. Langone hospital fire. The chat. Night before, Bill and Hill at Rao’s. And the New York Athletic Club waiters? Really athletic. As I spoke to Bill, they removed my food. The menu listed cocktails. They disappeared. And refilling my glass I got shpritzed with water.

Now I know how de Blasio feels. Only in New York, kids, only in New York.