If you ask Robert De Niro to speak, be prepared for his tirade on the former president who seeks office again. That omission seemed odd to the guests seated at Cipriani Wall Street this week for the annual Gotham Awards. Then, the actor paused realizing the words he was reading from the teleprompter were not the ones he’d written, so he started over, this time focused on the truth. After all, his movie Killers of the Flower Moon was awarded the Gotham’s “Historical Icon & Creator.” Director Martin Scorsese was not present to hear the Tribute to his film but Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone were, with Gladstone further awarded “Outstanding Lead Performance” for her work in The Unknown Country.

For those of us who have attended this yearly event, and seen it become less and less scruffy as the awards night for indies—attire: black tie, the Gothams was especially distinct for the presence of actors now able to celebrate after the seemingly endless strike. As Morgan Spector said during cocktails when asked what he’s scheduled to do after the 2^nd season of HBO’s “The Gilded Age,” “I’m eager to work.” Many, such as presenters Laura Dern, Willem DaFoe, Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, Coleman Domingo, Penelope Cruz, Adam Driver—the list is long—looked happy just to show up.

Awards went to Barbie, Ferrari, Anatomy of a Fall, Four Daughters, with a top prize to Past Lives. Three films I especially liked received various nominations. As the season heats up, look out for Poor Things, All of Us Strangers, and The Zone of Interest. Maestro director and star Bradley Cooper took the stage with Carey Mulligan and two of Leonard Bernstein’s three children. But the best stuff happens as everyone mills around after the ceremony. Cooper had a long embrace with ç who had just won Outstanding Supporting Performance for his role in Todd Haynes’ May December. Back when this feature opened the New York Film Festival, Haynes called it on this hunk’s knockout performance. And Melton—in black tie, yes—came shirtless.