Daily Front Row

2012 March 29

Bonjour, Paris! "The Adopted" Premieres at Tribeca Grand Hotel

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Melanie Laurent, Marie Denarnaud
Patrick McMullan View Gallery

(NEW YORK) What happens when that girl from Inglourious Basterds recruits that guy from Inglourious Basterds and a little-known French newbie for her first feature-length film? The Adopted. (Les Adoptés, if you're French.) The quirky familial drame is the directorial debut of triple-threat Mélanie Laurent, who wrote, directed and starred in the foreign flick along with co-stars Denis Ménochet and Marie Denarnaud (Laurent's "super best friend"). Last night, the Dior-clad pals joined a crop of casually-dressed night crawlers (read: Woody Harrilson in a dark suit and a peace sign baseball cap) at the Tribeca Grand Hotel for the premiere and the Soho Grand for the relaxed after-party, hosted by the Cinema Society and Dior Beauty. Not everyone got the memo.

"Who's the liquor sponsor?" asked one guest. "Everyone!" shouted the bartender over the hum of the crowd noshing on a buffet of risotto, whipped potatoes, and slabs of medium-rare beef. "In that case, I'll work my way from top to bottom," smiled the lucky chap holding a cold bevvy in each hand. He wasn't the only one. 

"I had a big glass of champagne, but it wasn't enough!" giggled Laurent while practicing her English and asking "Ted from The Observer" if she could have a swill of his bubbly. "Ted from The Observer" happily obliged. 

Later, Tony Danza expertly navigated the room to shake hands with Woody and bump elbows with Russell Simmons before making his way to Laurent. A congratulatory conversation ensued with words like "incredible" and "magnificent." After a couple minutes, Danza confessed: "You're going to have to walk away from me, because I won't be able to walk away from you!" Alas, Laurent had to attend to her other guests, including Isla Fisher, Mark Ruffalo, Jesse Eisenberg, Albert Hammond Jr., and "that little kid in the hoodie," who happened to be James Franco's 25-year-old brother, Dave.

Speaking of siblings, The Daily wandered the party to ask moviegoers: Who's your brother from another mother? Laurent mentioned her hairstylist on hand nearby; Russell Simmons cited Puffy, Brett Ratner, and his business execs since he "bickers with them like brothers;" Dylan McDermott offered up Lou Reed--not surprising since the rocker was screen-printed on his faded tee.

As the soiree wound down around midnight, guests trickled outside where we found Laurent taking a petite smoke break. "What can I say? It's the most French thing about me!"
MARIA DENARDO