BUSY PALMINTERI FALTERS IN `FAITHFUL'.

Byline: Lawrence Toppman Knight-Ridder Tribune News Wire

As James Brown is on a hiatus from reality, the nickname ``Hardest-working Man in Show Business'' is available. I nominate Chazz Palminteri.

In the three years since ``A Bronx Tale'' rubbed its gritty vision of '50s New York in our faces, the actor-writer has appeared in ``Bullets Over Broadway,'' ``The Perez Family,'' ``The Usual Suspects'' and ``Jade.''

He's now on screen in ``Diabolique'' and on the way in ``Mulholland Falls,'' a vehicle about Los Angeles cops in the '40s. And ``Faithful,'' which he wrote and stars in, has arrived just in time for Easter.

Of course, as director Ernst Lubitsch noted, only a mediocrity can always do work that's up to his own standard. Palminteri is not a mediocrity - and ``Faithful'' is well below his best.

It started life as a dialogue-heavy play with three characters: a hit man, the wealthy woman he's hired to kill, and the husband who has apparently set up the murder. (I say ``apparently'' because the movie's lone, stunted surprise revolves around this point.)

Tony (Palminteri) spends most of the picture haranguing Margaret (Cher) about alleged sins, while Jack (Ryan O'Neal) drives to another state to establish an alibi. When Jack telephones to say he's arrived, Tony will pull the trigger.

Director Paul Mazursky finds dull ways to set up the repetitive dialogue, which revolves around sex and marital fidelity.

Palminteri is the best actor alive playing dangerous but potentially salvageable 40-year-olds from the Bronx. (It's the only role he can play, I'm guessing.) But Tony is an undifferentiated nut case, not worth our sympathy or time.

Cher mopes plausibly as Margaret, returning to movies after a six-year absence in a picture that will do her career little good. You have to wonder what ever drew Margaret to Jack, since O'Neal has all the charisma and individuality of a plastic bar ashtray.

THE FACTS The film: ``Faithful'' (R; language, violence).

The stars: Cher, Chazz Palminteri, Ryan O'Neal.

Behind the scenes: Directed by Paul Mazursky. Written by Chazz Palminteri, based on his play. Produced by Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro.

Running time: One hour, 31 minutes.

Our rating: Two Stars.