MARGO CHANNING
“Autograph fiends, they’re not people. Those little beasts that run around in packs like coyotes…They’re nobody’s fans. They’re juvenile delinquent, they’re mental defective, and nobody’s audience. They never see a play or a movie even. They’re never indoors long enough.”
I had always thought that Margo Channing was being particularly harsh here, it turns out she was being uncharacteristically kind. This was discovered at this evening’s
world premiere of Nine.
After months of anticipation, the opportunity to celebrate the release of
Nine with the people behind it was irresistible to my film buff friend and I. Once the first ‘star’ had arrived, in the glorious form of
Daniel Day Lewis, the crowd (AKA the vulters) started vying for his blood. This continued as the film’s director,
Rob Marshall, approached our area for autographs…and how did people react? “DANIEL!”. They were as interested in Marshall as they are in last week’s
newspaper Heat magazine. These were not film fans but celebrity whores, the type of which feed Katie Price, Peter Andre and the like…
This nightmarish quality did not distinguish all our excitement for the event, we were still in the presence of some of our favourite filmmakers. And they didn’t disappoint, not that they ever could!
We watched as Day Lewis charmed everybody around him (including us), as
Judi Dench arrived with her gal pals, merrily reminisced with a group of dancers and gave serious judgement to questioned thrown her direction from the press, then
Kate Hudson made a true Hollywood entrance with an elaborate gown screaming both sex and style –
she worked it! – which was followed by the rather awkward presence of
Nicole Kidman, complete with her hubbie on her hip, followed by an equally uncomfortable
Penelope Cruz (she looked a though she was still suffering from that food poisoning at Cannes; unsurprisingly glamorous but largely unamused by events).
Marion Cotillard and
Sophia Loren had the smarts – yes I’m referring Marshall’s
Chicago – to skip the premiere, and the avoid the beastly attitude of the crowd.
It is an experience I doubt I will relive again, although there are many reflective joys within the tale – mainly the signature of Kidman on my treasured ticket for the premiere of last year’s
Australia (that ticket is now
loaded with sentimental value). Also the fact that Penelope Cruz stole my pen (now that I can tell the grand kids!). Yet the celebratory context was absent, and we were a part of a group of greedy celebrity consumers whose hunger could, and will, never be satisfied. Their presence may be vital in the publicity of such a high-profile film, but detracts too heavily from the experience of a film fan.
Right now, I need time to digest…And decide where to put my newfound giant Nine poster while I listen to the freshly leaked soundtrack (so far I can only say that I am torn in my reaction).
Ticklepickleme 