Super Bowl season is also Superstars season. June Squibb, who plays Bruce Dern’s cranky wife in Best Picture nominee “Nebraska,” is up for Best Supporting.
“Reading the script, I felt I knew the character,” said June. “Seeing the finished movie, I realized I was playing my own mother. The similarity hadn’t sunk in while I was preparing.
“Director Alexander Payne at first didn’t think me right for the role. I’d worked with him before, and remembering me as this sweet lady he didn’t want to see me. We were on opposite ends of the country. Neither of us eager to fly five hours for a tryout. So finally they let me tape.
“Alone, in my agent’s office, I did two scenes they’d sent. No other actors with me. The young man who ran the camera — and had no talent — read the lines. And we mailed the tape.
“To us it was a small film, not some extravagant production. It was nothing. A 39-day $13 million shoot in Billings, Mont., and Nebraska. Sparse script. Not one unnecessary word. Filmed in black and white because Payne’s from there and knew those real people are all black, white and gray. And sparse.
“Even the wardrobe was strange. Colors shoot differently in black and white, so colors we wore in real life clashed with one another but looked right on film.
“We never thought this would be such a hit. That started in Cannes. When p.r. surrounded it, suddenly Oscar talk began. Slowly it began to sink in that we’d done something great.”
What to wear
Wednesday Sundance Channel does “Revealing: Celebutante,” an hour special. Elle’s fashionisto Joe Zee pokes today’s wardrobe with Jean Paul Gaultier, Carolina Herrera, Iman. Stuff that’s too tight, too short, too revealing, too cheesy. Also maybe what’s it mean when a buyer says, “I’m Rubenesque.” Please. Means she’s a lard butt. Like Kim non-Mrs. West Kardashian.
Football fetes all over
It’s Super Bowl parties up your superkazoo. Last night was Showtime’s with Victor Cruz and chefs versus sportscasters creating game-winning eats.
Tonight Kings of Leon performs, Michael Strahan hosts at a Fox Sports thing. Friday, Aspire’s party with Magic Johnson, disco balls, “Soul Train” dancers. Saturday Revolt concert with Sean “Diddy” Combs, Drake and DJ Funk Flex. Black tie not required. I think you just need to wear shoes.
121 Fulton Street’s pushing $7 cucumber martini shots. The Chester’s got $70 candied bacon platters. Benjamin Steakhouse is hustling fish tacos and complimentary NY-style cheesecake, the Sea Fire Grill’s pouring Seahawk’s Prey, which is gin, Chartreuse, Grand Marnier, maraschino cherries, cayenne, lime and somebody to help you to your car.
The Gansevoort Park Windsor is telling me, “Limited reservations only available.” I’m telling them not to worry — I’m not going.
In New Jersey, tonight it’s Chart House on the Hudson River. Broncos and Seahawks will show, plus there’ll be types like Wyclef Jean, Jon Stewart, Dr. Oz, Queen Latifah, Robin Quivers and anyone else refusing to cross the GWB.
You should know
Sarah Palin’s idea is a beauty and diet book . . . Have respect. Lest anyone think I don’t know from culture, I’m informing you Daft Punk bassist Nathan East, who knocked off a debut solo album, tours Asia next month with Eric Clapton . . . Also, lunching at the Smith in Lincoln Center, Josh Groban . . . Also Hunt Slonem paintings dot the coming John Turturro/Sharon Stone/Sofia Vergara/Liev Schreiber/ Vanesssa Paradis film “Fading Gigolo,” which, aptly, also stars actor Woody Allen.
Going Dutch for a snack, this lady had a Coke with her sandwich. To save money her cheapo friend always poured half for herself without ordering her own beverage. Finally savvy, the lady began doing Cel-Ray instead. Different taste. Cheapo friend hated it, wouldn’t drink it. Result? She had to buy her own soda.
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.