Robert De Niro, who is known equally for being a) a great actor and b) giving interview answers of one syllable or fewer, rarely speaks in public in the persona of Robert De Niro and we received notice why last night. De Niro did not quite cover himself in glory when introducing the winner of the Best Director honors at the New York Film Critics’ Circle annual barbecue at Crimson in Manhattan. In fact, De Niro’s introduction made Rocky Balboa’s hilarious attempt to promote Beast Aftershave in Rocky II look like a virtuoso performance. Why? The name of the honoree was Michel Hazanavicius, for “The Artist.”

De Niro repeatedly pronounced the director’s first name “Michael” and as for how De Niro handled the last name, “without aplomb” does not quite get it right. “Hazna — Hannaza – Handza — Haza — I’ll get it….” I’m not sure he ever did get it, though. Picture Colin Firth’s Bertie with a mouthful of marbles in “The King’s Speech” and you’ll get the idea. Or maybe Porky Pig coming off major dental surgery.

 De Niro offered a dozen or so fumbles and mumbles of the director’s surname in the course of explaining that he had first seen “The Artist” as a member of the Cannes jury (which gave Jean Dujardin Best Actor honors) “and I said, this is not an easy thing to do. Michel makes it look effortless.” Gracious, Hazanavicius took to the podium and said, “You did great with my name. I just learned to spell my own name two years ago.”