Traditionally, the IFP Gotham Awards kicks off the film season’s tributes. As celebrations go, this decidedly downtown dinner brings together New York’s movie making elite while honoring films in Oscar-like categories. A balcony at Cipriani Wall Street becomes a giant schmooze fest, a meet and greet for many before the big events in Los Angeles, before the night’s filet mignon is served, and while the nominees for Best Actor, Feature, etc. continue to be hopeful. There, Ethan Hawke pontificated about Claire Denis and how she should receive a Gotham. We could not praise him enough for his movie Blaze, one that he directed about a music legend. That was before he took home a Best Actor statue for his performance in Paul Schrader’s First Reformed, and Schrader received his for Best Screenplay. But the night was young.
It was
Alessandro Nivola who introduced his buddy Ethan. He had just told us he would star in the movie of “The Sopranos.” So good in many films, Nivola starred in last summer’s Disobedience featuring an unforgettable
Rachel Weisz who picked up the award for her ensemble work—with
Emma Stone and
Olivia Colman-- in
Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Favourite. Their presence in absence was keenly felt as Weisz stood up with their faces on fans. She then read a statement by each claiming she was “the favourite,” but Weisz clearly gets that by the sheer virtue of showing up.
Michael Sheen, full bearded and nearly unrecognizable, introduced Rachel Weisz for the night’s “Actress Tribute,” admitting he was terrified of her. The affable Morgan Neville, picking up an Audience Award, spoke about his documentary illuminating the life of “Mister Rogers,” Won’t You Be My Neighbor? These were among many memorable moments. My very favorite of the night was Laurie Anderson introducing Willem Dafoe, star of Julian Schnabel’s new movie about Vincent van Gogh, At Eternity’s Gate. Schnabel was in attendance and Anderson shouted out to him, praising the film and Dafoe’s performance, which takes you “far beyond what you know about van Gogh.” In turn, Dafoe graciously remembered Bernardo Bertolucci who had just died, and quoted van Gogh: “What is done in love is done well.”
My least favorite moment of the night was Glenn Close’s performance in The Wife overlooked for Toni Collette’s in Hereditary for Best Actress. Not that Collette was not good. She was certainly excellent. But she was not there, and Close was the favorite to win for this excellent indy adaptation of Meg Wolitzer’s novel. Finally, Patricia Clarkson introduced the Best Feature, the last award of the night, to The Rider. Sony Picture Classics will have to bring that one back.
Regina Weinreich
Graphic Design: Salpeter Ventura
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