Daily Front Row

2012 April 17

'Safe' In Chelsea

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Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Jason Statham
ANDREW TOTH/PatrickMcMullan.com View Gallery

(NEW YORK) The world premiere of thrilling action flick Safe injected Monday night with an electrifying dose of adventure, impressive combat scenes, and copious amounts of bloodshed amid the streets of NYC, courtesy of The Cinema Society, Lionsgate, and TW Steel. The Jason Statham-helmed film brought out a flock of thrill seekers to Chelsea Clearview Cinemas, including writer and director Boaz Yakin, cast Matthew O’Toole, Robert John Burke, Jay Giannone, Reggie Lee, Catherine Chan, Danny Hoch, Joseph Sikora. The fashion set included Erin Fetherston, Rachel Roy,  Harper's Bazaar's Laura Brown and Kristina O'Neill, Patrick Demarchelier, and Dree Hemingway; also on the premises were Shaun White,  Ice-T and Coco, Marlon Wayans, Padma Lakshmi, Olivia Palermo, and Nora Zehetner. 

The thriller follows a former New York City cop who rescues a young abducted Chinese girl who happens to be a mathematics whiz and in possession of a very long and very important number. Screeching car chases, skilled fight scenes, and never-ending gunshots ensue, as the duo is pursued by the Russian mafia, the Triads, and corrupt New York politicians and police. Statham discussed getting in touch with his more vulnerable side (he’s a self-proclaimed “big softie”) and commiserated about not being able to attend Coachella this year. “I love all kinds of music, and that’s why I love Coachella. It’s got all the flavors!” Statham said. And as for the tunes that get him revved up for shooting action scenes in Safe? Too many to count! “I’ll send you my playlist,” Statham called out while walking into the theater avec Rosie Huntington-Whiteley on his arm. 

After all those adrenaline-inducing fight scenes, the pumped-up crowd ventured south to party at PH-D at the Dream Downtown, complete with an Aaron Carter cameo. Guests munched on tuna tartare scooped into crispy cones and tipped back cocktails as your Daily got to thinking about issues of safety. The Borgias star Lotte Verbeek was ready and willing to dish about a recent misadventure in the Caribbean: “I had a huge spider walking across my bare foot; that freaked me out. I panicked, I screamed—and I didn’t stop for the next three hours!” As for what makes this auburn-haired beauty feel safe, besides friends and family? “A helmet, when I’m riding my bicycle." Safety first! 
ALEKSANDRA HOGENDORF