Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara, Keith Carradine, Ben Foster’s movie “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints” premiered at BAM’s Harvey Theater.
Guest Kelly Bensimon arrived in silver spangles, super sparkles, shiny sequins. They stopped only at her crotch where the dress ended. “It’s by Jovani,” she said. Fine.
Her bag? Multicolored jewels, blinking rhinestones, bright beads. “It’s by Fendi,” she said. Fine. Gorgeous, but you couldn’t have missed her if you were standing in Yangon.
Being her Brooklyn wardrobe, what’s this Reality unHousewife wear to a premiere in Manhattan? “Jeans, shorts and Birkenstocks,” she said.
Unlike this guest, the film’s star Casey Affleck wore plain T-shirt, rumpled pants, scruffy shoes.
So, Casey, what’s the movie about? Answer: “I don’t know how to describe it. I play a guy in prison. There’s a child, and he escapes and runs away, and it was shot in a creepy old horrible place in Shreveport.
“My other film, due around Thanksgiving, is ‘Out of the Furnace’ with Christian Bale. A crime drama about redemption and a depressed vet out of Iraq can’t find a job, gets in with a rough gang and ends up in prison.”
And so when he’s not in prison, what’s his everyday lifestyle? Putting me on, he answered: “Up crack of dawn. I’m a farmer. I feed pigs, tend to the chickens, pick vegetables, collect the children after school, then work with the animals.”
Okayyyy. So, Casey, how’s brother Ben Affleck handling his sudden red-hot success? “Oh, please. He’s taking humility lessons. Bad enough before, but now we’re all trying to teach the guy to be humble and affable but we’re finding it difficult.”
Okayyyy. When not in prison, Casey Affleck’s adorable.
Hill thrills
Certain e-mail, snail mail, cellphones are receiving bulletins saying: Coming Soon: Bumper stickers, T-shirts, Ready for Hillary gear! Purchases will invest in electing her. Sign up to know when readyforhillarystore.com opens. And check her Twitter bio: “Wife, mom, lawyer, women & kids advocate, FLOAR, FLOTUS, US Senator, SecState, author, dog owner, hair icon, pantsuit aficionado, glass ceiling cracker, TBD. Contribute before June 30. Send a message, we’ll work our hearts out to make her president. The moment she runs, we are ready.”
Culinary tidbits
Little Italy’s Il Cortile restaurant built a shrine to James Gandolfini. Against the wall in the rear Garden Room, his favorite table — remaining empty — is now decorated with old photos, candles and a cross around the plaque. Fellow diners snap pictures of it . . . Chef Paula Deen’s little ungraciousness runs in the family. Her son called repeatedly about an interview. I did it. When I later phoned about mom having diabetes, he was “unavailable.” Never returned the call.
Musical chairs
Saturday matinee for smashing multiple Tony-winning “Pippin” was SRO. The Music Box’s small 990-seat audience is doing $1 million a week business. Screaming from her fourth-row-center seat — Lucie Arnaz and husband Larry Luckinbill celebrating their 33rd wedding anniversary. May he get her this excited when they’re not in a theater.
Odds & ends
Before he was “Superman” and just a pudgy kid, 20 years ago Henry Cavill got career advice from Russell Crowe. Both now starring in “Man of Steel,” both just partied at SushiSamba in London. Sleek Cavill in a Tom Ford tailored suit. Crowe in an oversized T-shirt and hoodie. So who’s pudgy now? . . . Val Chmerkovskiy (second place this season in Dancing With the Left-footers) and his 65-pound bulldog Sir Sleep fox-trotted in matching tuxedos for P&G’s Everyday Effect Campaign.
Jokes, folks
So did you hear about the breeder who crossed a pit bull with a moose? Now he’s not only nasty, he’s horny.
So this lady about a rival lady: “I dislike her — and I never will!”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.