Daily Front Row

2012 October 11

Seven Psychopaths = One Good Night

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Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken
Nicholas Hunt / PatrickMcMullan.com View Gallery

(NEW YORK) Let the awards season games commence! Last night in Chelsea, The Cinema Society and Hugo Boss hosted a screening of the Christopher Walken, Colin Farrell and Sam Rockwell flick Seven Psychopaths that turns on the simmer button on for statue speculation. (Is there a category for "Best Twists and Turns" in a movie yet?) The film, already a winner of the "People's Choice Award" at the recent Toronto Film Festival, is your classic buddy movie about a struggling screenwriter who becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his buddies kidnap a beloved Shih Tzu belonging to gangster, played by malevolent Woody Harrelson. Yes, Shih Tzu. But let's not forget the seven psychopaths who keep things rolling along, blood and all. 

Walken and Rockwell (Farrell was stuck in L.A. filming, so he couldn't make it, but he hasn't had such a gnarly role on screen in eons) joined their co-stars Abbie Cornish, Michael Pitt, Michael Stuhlbarg, Gabourey Sidibe (in a small, but winning, cameo), Helena Mattsson, and Amanda Warren for the screening at Chelsea Cinemas. Before the film, Mattsson (also featured on TV's 666 Park Avenue) told us what it was like working with the legendary Walken: "Oh my God, he's so sweet, normal and easy. Just a very humble guy." Who knew? Blythe Danner didn't have a role in the film, but came out from stomping in swing states for Obama to catch her former co-star Walken. "I hardly ever come to these," Danner explained before the film. "I almost never do, but when I saw this cast and Chris whom I adore, I knew that this was going to be a lot of fun, and I don't live that far away." The two have appeared together numerous times on stage, including the Williamstown Theatre Festival run of A Streetcar Named Desire (as Blanche and Stanley, obvi!). Danner echoed that working with the actor is everything you'd expect. "It's like jumping off a cliff and knowing you'll be caught. He's the most wonderful, free, liberated actor. He's generous, he takes you along with him on the ride, but it's always a little dangerous, which makes it thrilling." 

The screening brought out an eclectic group that included Mariska Hargitay and hubby Peter Hermann, Helena Christensen, Julian Schnabel, Vanessa Hudgens, David Crosby of Crosby Stills & Nash (who gushed to Jewel about what an incredible singer she is before the screening), Eli Roth, Josh Hamilton, Christian Campbell, Richard Kind, Carla Gugino, Russell Simmons (obviously), Kiera Chaplin, Kelly Bensimon, Tyson Ballou, John Demsey, Ivan Bart, Alex Lundqvist, Cory Bond, Bekah Jenkins, and Maura Tierney.

After the screening, guests walked a few blocks downtown for an after-party at Amy Sacco's latest haute spot on West 16th St, No. 8, where they enjoyed signature Appleton Estate cocktails including the aptly titled Jack of Diamonds and the Seventh Psychopath. Giving a little A-list power to the room were Gerard Butler and Scarlett Johansson, who stopped by for a nightcap. The flick comes out in theaters on Friday, and trust us, it's a crazy good time.
EDDIE ROCHE