Merie W. Wallace

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Nebbishy Brooklyn Heights actor Paul Giamatti apparently doesn’t have much faith in his taste in film.

But the Brooklyn Academy of Music certainly does, hosting a series of films called “Paul Giamatti Selects” at the BAMCinematek through Sept. 11.

“It was hilarious,” Giamatti (pictured) told GO Brooklyn. “They said to me, ‘Do you want to do a series?’ And I thought they were kidding.”

With no particular theme in mind, Giamatti picked eight flicks — including “Dr. Strangelove” and “Dawn of the Dead” — but never thought his list would make it onto the silver screen. “I picked all of these obscure movies that I like,” he said, “but I thought, ‘They’re never going to show this kind of s—t.’ ”

Was he wrong — both about BAM’s intentions and about the quality of the films he picked.

“Not many people have even heard of ‘The Seventh Victim’ or ‘Brewster McCloud,’ although they’re both fabulous movies,” said BAMCinematek manager Matthew Buchholz. “It was a great opportunity for us to show some interesting films and work with one of our favorite actors.”

And though he hasn’t made it to see any of the films, BAM shouldn’t turn the projectors off just yet.

“I want to go see some! I’ve never seen ‘The Seventh Victim’ on a big screen,” said Giamatti, who can be caught later this month in “Shoot ’Em Up” and “The Nanny Diaries.”

“I don’t know why they chose me — I honestly thought they were kidding around.”

©2007 The Brooklyn Paper