Julian Schnabel‘s “Miral” got its premiere last night in the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations, a place I hadn’t seen the inside of since I was 12. It’s still there! A giant state of the art screen was erected by a Boston company, and Schnabel assembled as his delegates Robert DeNiro, Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Chaz Palminteri, and Candice Bergen and daughter Chloe Malle. Cast members Vanessa Redgrave, Willem Dafoe, and Stella Schnabel were in the room, too, along with Famke Janssen, James Toback, and the film’s author and inspiration, Rula Jebreal. DeNiro didn’t stay for the screening, and Penn left during the Q&A moderated by Dan Rather. But Steve Buscemi and wife Jo were among those who toughed it out. Star Freida Pinto must have been in India or shooting a film. “Miral” is much changed, by the way, from its festival cut last summer. Producer Jon Kilik — who told me he had lunch with Bono recently to discuss “Spider Man”– said they took 15 minutes out of it. Palestinian actress Haim Abbass is still wonderful in it…PS Schnabel didn’t conform just because we were at the UN. He wore trademark pajamas, albeit under a sportcoat…
…The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame yielded few celebs beyond those who were involved in the ceremony. Maybe that’s because they make past inductees pay for tickets if they want to come! Ha! Anyway, Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa, and Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones were Jann Wenner‘s clueless guests (it would be interesting to know if they paid for tickets or were hosted). Judy Collins went as a guest of Jac Holzman because she’d been on Elektra Records back in the day; otherwise she’s not in the Rock Hall even though she should be. There are loads of pictures of Tommy Mottola, incongruously, from the event. I’m told Neil Diamond‘s acceptance speech was more than a tad unfriendly, not surprising considering how long he was made to wait for admission to this by now ridiculous club. Good for him!…
…Meanwhile, up at Elaine’s, Chris Noth stopped in after seeing Chris Rock in “The Motherf—er with the Hat.” Noth’s show, “That Championship Season,” is off on Mondays. Much talk of Elaine, and Chris accepted kudos from diners for his role in the play. And that’s a cold Monday night in Manhattan, kids. PS Julian Schnabel’s first wife, who was at the “Miral” screening, said she was heading to dinner at a Japanese restaurant. Her invite to Schnabel’s A list party at Cipriani must not have arrived…
