Gossip Central

The Edge of Democracy: Contenders at MoMA/ DOCNYC

Amidst the shit storm of impeachment inquiry of the president Spike Lee calls “Agent Orange,” noting heavy toxins, the documentary The Edge of Democracy tells a political history set in Brazil, juxtaposed with the personal story of the director Petra Costa’s family. This relentless political drama can be seen as a cautionary tale, or just a grim look at what our world endures today as lies gain stature, dignity falls away, and everywhere, the people lose. At a special screening at MoMA, part of the current Contenders series auguring awards ahead, Lee introduced the film to a packed crowd. Most chilling in Brazil’s case, deposed officials refused to step down claiming corruption, the equivalent of “fake news.”

Dark Waters: Todd Haynes’ Drama of Dirty Industry

Out of the blue comes Dark Waters, Todd Haynes’ new film based on his star, Mark Ruffalo’s environmental passions. Fear of the water depicted in this legal procedural is not because of sharks, but because of industry, specifically the story of Dupont’s deliberate poisoning of landfill resulting in the death of animals and cancer in humans. The film did not take the conventional festival circuit, and, unlike the saturated colors of  movies Carol or Mildred Pierce, takes director Haynes into a dark mood and commercial genre; he handles it well crafting drama from a ripped from-the-headlines scandal, focusing on the tireless efforts of a corporate lawyer, Rob Bilott, whose firm sides with industry.

Meeting up with Bilett at the Lincoln Restaurant this week, at the movie’s premiere, we learned how the story is not yet over, with lawsuits accruing beyond the film’s final frame. But, as the film suggests, is it too late? The lethal chemical was also an ingredient of Teflon, a household brand, and everyone alive has ingested some amount.

Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards: Let the Prize Season Begin!

Longtime documentarian Frederick Wiseman was on a roll. First celebrated this week as a NYPL Literary Lion, he was then honored with the Critics’ Choice Documentary Lifetime Achievement Award redubbed for the late D. A. Pennebaker. With this renaming, Chris Hegedus, Pennebaker’s film and life partner for 43 years presented the statue to Frederick Wiseman noting his achievement in avoiding the usual devices such as voiceovers and talking heads, just turning his lens on a subject. And Wiseman especially admired Pennebaker: “He had fun making movies, and so do I.”

No one seemed to be having more fun at BRIC than pint-sized sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the subject of this year’s documentary, Ask Dr. Ruth. “I’m presenting shorts,” she announced proudly. “Even if that is because I’m short, just remember, size does not matter.”

The New York Public Library’s Literary Lions Gala by the Book

A bookish night at the New York Public Library, the Literary Lions gala celebrates writers. Charlie Rose attended, and was ensconced in conversation as pigs in blankets were passed. Jean Doumanian confessed to hating long cocktail hours, but the gabfest went on for a while. Writers do have stories. Julie Taymor is finishing her film on Gloria Steinem, and Gay Talese, ever the dapper gadabout, said he went out to screenings and book events galore, even stepping out to a pub to watch television, if nothing else was on his social calendar.

Niccolo Paganini’s Violins and a Night of Pink Martini

Stradivarius comes to mind when you think of special violins, but Niccolo Paganini preferred the strings of Guarneri Del Gesu. This week, in honor of the virtuoso’s 237^th birthday, his ancestor Maria Elena Paganini orchestrated a huge celebration, ushered in with cocktails at Ascent Lounge overlooking Central Park featuring a performance by some extraordinary players, music director Edmond Fokker van Crayestein, Elly Suh, Kevin Zhu, Sabrina-Vivian Hopcker, and followed by a spectacular concert at Carnegie Hall. But the violins were the special guests, each one valued at roughly $10 million. Undaunted by their luxe value, the violinists took their instruments in stride: “They must be played.”