FashionEtc.com May 3rd, 2024

On a cold and rainy May 21, the Cinema Society screened Submarine, a sweet and funny Welsh film that hits all the right notes.

Film aficionado that I am, I looked it up on Rotten Tomatoes before stepping out and saw that it had received a 97 out of 100, that it was an indie movie, and that it focused on high school students. I was anticipating a good movie, and I got what I came for, as did Olivier Theyskens, Griffin Dunne, Noah Baumbach, Jason Schwarztman, and Christopher Meloni.

Ben Stiller, the film's executive producer, gave a hilarious introduction about Submarine's director, Richard Ayoade.

"What can you say about Richard Ayoade that he hasn't already said about himself?" asked Stiller, making the audience burst into laughter. "He's one of the great self-promoters. But he actually came through. He's a really talented guy."

Ayoade himself gave a self-deprecating and funny speech about the film. "In terms of expectations, I'd put them to a low gas flame," he said. "I'd set it to a three out of 10."

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We spent much of this week immersed in the world of television, attending the Upfronts, where the networks present their fall schedules to advertisers. Yes, there are lots of boring speeches and too-long film clips, but there is lots of fun as well.

We got insulted by Sue Sylvester! Dressed in her character’s trademark tracksuit, Jane Lynch opened the Fox presentation with:

“I would like to say to you, each and every one of you here tonight, you’re welcome. You’re welcome for my making the next 60 seconds the highlight of your week; heck, maybe the highlight of your lives. It’ll honestly be better than night ops with my old pals on Seal Team Six.”

Then, she introduced the network’s stars: “In a few moments, you are going to see a bunch of spoiled, overpaid, underworked, well-tanned, so-called thespians trot across this stage like a jilted runner-up in the Little Miss Lima pageant. A 20-second sashay that cost the network 75 first-class plane tickets and more presidential suites than a Saudi bachelor party.”

Sue, of course, is better than all of them: “Now me, I’m staying at the Midtown YMCA. I got here by bus, because I like to mingle with the likes of you, the little people.”

If that wasn’t enough for us Gleeks, Darren Criss led the Warblers, his Glee school choir, in a song.

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The Cinema Society and Thierry Mugler hosted a screening and after-party on May 17 for Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen's lighthearted new movie about love, nostalgia, betrayal, cultural differences, and self-discovery set in the most achingly beautiful city in the world, Paris.

Allen's film alternates between present-day Paris and Paris in the 1920s. I don't want to give the plot away, but Adrien Brody has a small role as Salvador Dalí that still has me grinning from ear to ear. Carla Bruni-Sarkozy also has a wonderful bit part, filled with a mixture of low-key sexiness and wisdom.

The movie has gotten excellent advance reviews (for good reason). The audience was packed with notables such as Allen himself with wife Soon-Yi, Patricia Clarkson, Gina Gershon, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (in vintage Dior and The Row), Sofia Coppola, Nora Ephron, and several cast members, including Michael Sheen, Kathy Bates, Rachel McAdams, and Corey Stoll.

"It's a classic Woody Allen movie: magical, funny and romantic," said Sheen, who will next be playing Hamlet. "Woody has a very clear idea of what he needs as a director. It's wonderful to work with people that you respect; Woody is a director any actor would want to work with."

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American Ballet Theatre celebrated the opening of its 71st season on May 16 at the Metropolitan Opera, and what a night it was.

The 2011 Spring Gala was filled with black-tie-clad ballet enthusiasts who knew it would be well worth it to brave the rain and wind. ABT is known for its exceptional dancers, innovative choreography, brilliant use of costumes, and much more. It is one of New York City's great cultural institutions.

The incredible performance featured excerpts from ABT's upcoming season, which ranged from the classic Swan Lake to Splendid Isolation, which was choreographed by Jessica Lange and featured a long, spiraling and unraveling white dress as an integral part of the performance. Pure magic.

There was also a special tribute to Jose Manuel Carreño—ABT's legendary principal dancer who is retiring this year—featuring the company premiere of Majisimo. Carreño himself performed, as well as Lorena and Lorna Feijóo from the San Francisco Ballet and the Boston Ballet, respectively, and Reyneris Reyes from the Miami City Ballet, among others.

The post-performance dinner was served under a huge, white Cuban-themed tent in Damrosch Park, decorated to perfection by Bill Tansey in deep pink, orange and yellow tablecloths with contrasting napkins, floral centerpieces in strong colors, and lighting that made everyone look like they had gotten at least eight hours of sleep.

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