Awards season. Every 10 minutes, another award. Soon it’s statuettes for popcorn sellers and the cleanest movie-house john. Annually, Oscar’s beginning preview, first week January, is President Annie Schulhof’s National Board of Review.
The evening’s earliest arrival was Octavia Spencer. “I have two films coming out. In ‘Gifted,’ I’m a landlady. In ‘The Shack,’ I play God.” So, Our Mother Which Art In Heaven, what’s she doing with all the money she’s making? “I do the Biblical thing. Give to the community. But first I give myself. I invest it.”
Jumping from Holy Scriptures into holy hell, Maggie Gyllenhaal. “You’ll see me on HBO as a prostitute. It’s a drama about porn in the ’70s. It’s amazing.” Why’s smut amazing? “This critiques capitalism through looking at porn.” OK.
“It’s choreographed. Close shots. No body makeup. I’ve done nude before, but you feel free to explore since you’re protected, because it’s fiction. There’s boundaries. And in Hour 5, my character makes a big change. She goes straight.” OK.
I couldn’t focus on Riley Keough’s arrival because swanning past in a sleek creamy jumpsuit was Naomie Harris of “Moonlight.” My focus was her smaller-than-a-doorknob behind, which was nice compared to that Mount Fuji jutting out of K. Kardashian.
Taking Mark from rapper to actor
Mark Wahlberg, without a breath in between: “My first audition was to be just a meeting. I wasn’t interested in a movie. I only wanted two hours with Penny Marshall, who starred in ‘Laverne and Shirley’ and who I loved in TV’s ‘Taxi.’ She asked was I an actor. I said, ‘No, I’m a rapper.’ She said, ‘You act like an actor. Why don’t you just audition?’ So I auditioned for four parts. Then she called and told me to fly out to LA. On my own. I paid for it.
“Penny gave me a screen test. Then a part. I grew up with John Garfield and James Cagney, so I watched everything on the set. From then on, I only wanted to act.”
Marty’s vow
Scorsese: “I wanted to return your call, but I was in Taipei.”
Me: “There’s phones there.”
Scorsese: “But I am so limited in these things. I don’t know how to use them. I’ve still got a Blackberry [which he showed me]. But I’m shooting ‘The Irishman’ June and July in New York. I’ll make it up to you.”
(Note: Lest he blow this one, everybody pay attention!)
Bits and pieces
Jeff Bridges. Silver hair. Silver beard. Soon to be seen in “The Only Living Boy in New York.”
Said Jeff: “I’m working since age 8 and never had trouble starting out in this business because of nepotism. My father, Lloyd Bridges, taught me to be gracious. Get along. Never trouble those youngsters who think they’re hot.”
Amy Adams: “I’ve seen ‘Arrival’ exactly once. I see nothing I’m in more than that or it’s bad for me and I begin criticizing. Examining myself.”
Wearing stunning black Marchesa, she said, “It’s borrowed.” Diamond earrings. “Loaned for the night.” Platform heels. “Part of my own rotating wardrobe. Out for special occasions, then put right back.”
Win it for Ma
Oscar’s maybe Best Actor winner Casey Affleck: “My mother maybe won’t love me anymore if I don’t win an award. My first screen test was ‘To Die For.’ I was 18. Director was Gus Van Sant. Who knows what my kids may want to do someday?”
While flopping down to fix his cuff or shoes or socks, he added: “I’m a schloomp.”
Last, not least
Last to arrive was Matthew Broderick, now rehearsing the New Group’s new play, “Evening at the Talk House.”
And Adam Driver, stiffing all reporters, only allowed photos.
Time magazine slugs him the “finest actor of the moment.”
May they know he’s also the chickenest.
And Willie Geist emceed. He emcees everything. The man hasn’t stayed home since kindergarten.