It was a muggy night in New York, but Peggy Siegal managed to cool it off with not one but two premieres on the same evening. Call it uptown and downtown. Her latter group came for the movie “Bachelorette,” which has been already been available on VOD and download services, and is now headed to theaters. A sort of shriller version of “Bridesmaids,” the new film stars Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher and Lizzy Caplan–all of whom made the trek to New York for the premiere, although I guess Rebel Wilson–who was also in “Bridesmaids”–had a previous commitment. Griffin Dunne, Brooke Shields, and Samantha Mathis were among the guests.
Meanwhile, uptown at MoMA and then the Royalton, Siegal through a premiere for the new Fred Schepisi film, “Eye of the Storm.” Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush came from Australia to promote it–he’s the star– and other guests were pretty A list: Meryl Streep and Don Gummer, playwright John Guare, and famed “60 Minutes” correspondent Bob Simon, plus writer Sharon Hoge and New York supercouple Johnnie Planc0 (famed talent manager) and his wife Lois (realtor to the stars). Simon told me he’s working on a piece about Rodriguez, the great non-star of the 70s about whom the current hit documentary “Searching for Sugar Man” is about. Simon says he also has about six pieces in the can for the new “60 Minutes” season, some of which have been waiting since last spring to be broadcast.
But the guest of most interest for yours truly was Julie Taymor, with composer husband Elliot Goldenthal. Taymor is mum on the much publicized settlement between her and the producers of “Spider Man: Turn off the Lawsuits”–er “Dark.” But I’m told the deal is not quite signed and sealed. (The two sides are prohibited from speaking about it.)
Taymor was thrown under the bus and scapegoated for many mistakes made by the “Spider Man” team. But now they’re at least close to resolving their issues. She’s off to the San Sebastian Film Festival, and then to a couple of “Lion King” premieres in Europe. Taymor’s “Lion King” is still the most popular show in the world. Hakuna matata.
SOME OTHER WEIRD SIGHTINGS: Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers was playing with his toddler daughter in the courtyard of the five star Mandarin Oriental hotel in Prague a few mornings ago, after putting on a blast of a concert the night before…Le Cirque’s famous restaurateur Sirio Maccioni and wife Egidiana, coming back from a month in Italy, waiting on the cab line at JFK on Sunday night, just like regular people!…Famed rock deejay Carol Miller promoted her book “Up All Night” on Fox 5 yesterday with Rosanna Scotto. The book is great, full of terrific stories– I’ll tell you more about it later this week…
