As film celebrations go, Monday’s IFP Gotham Awards was the quintessential New York night with many honored acknowledging their Big Apple core: tributee Dustin Hoffman recalled the days when he first arrived in the city, his recent mention in the news on the list for misconduct, blissfully omitted. With John Cameron Mitchell as M. C., the event at Cipriani Wall Street avoided the politics of the day—sexual harassment, white supremacy, the void in good leadership—focusing, mostly, on the art of cinema. But that does not mean the night lacked political moment as Dan Rather, exemplar of truth to power journalism, presented a humanitarian tribute award to Al Gore who gamely got up to remind everyone of the progress of global warming, and the necessity to face the challenge of our planet now.

Contenders for acting honors, Lois Smith, 89, star of Marjorie Prime, and Brooklynn Prince, 7, star of The Florida Project, presented the award for Best Screenplay to Jordan Peele for his movie Get Out, winner too of the Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director award. On the red carpet, Brooklynn Prince went head to head with Timothee Chalamet, 21, the star of Call Me By Your Name, and competitor for the Breakthrough Actor award. “I hope you win.” “No, I hope you win.” “I hope you win more,” they went back and forth like that, two kids in the playground. Finally Timothee did take home the prize, winning over Brooklynn and his hero Mary J. Blige, the mother in Mudbound, one of the fine performances of the year. The Netflix movie garnered the Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble

Gotham remained a theme for Michael Kenneth Williams who went on about how the city both nurtured and scarred him, and cameraman Ed Lachman, a legend for his work with the New York based Maysles Brothers and Robert Frank, pointed out that he shot films for European directors too. But Nashville had its moment. Reese Witherspoon presented a tribute award to her Big Little Lies co-star Nicole Kidman who removed her shoes running up to the stage. “We’re informal here, right?” she laughed, stunning in sequins. But the Belle of the Ball was Luca Guadagnino. Clad in Prada, the Italian director of Call Me By Your Name, led his cast to victory for Best Feature.

Regina Weinreich

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