Last night’s premiere of Wong Kar-Wai’s My Blueberry Nights was more starry-bright than blue-hued. The director’s much-anticipated film, which follows a heartbroken woman (Norah Jones) as she traverses across a dreamlike America and encounters a multitude of colorful, sad-sack characters, is Wong Kar-Wai’s first English-speaking effort. Fittingly, an international vibe prevailed at New York’s Tribeca Grand Hotel, where the screening took place. Seemingly everyone in Asia’s elite — including Ang Lee, Ziyi Zhang, Vivienne Tam, and Anna Sui — were in attendance, as were members of the film’s impossibly attractive cast, such as Jones, singer Chan Marshall (both pictured), and actor David Strathairn.
Introducing the film, Harvey Weinstein reminisced about the first time he saw Wong Kar-Wai’s Chungking Express — Miramax distributed the film in the States in 1996 — then cheekily championed sponsor IWC’s watches. “I will make sure that it gets into every photograph!” he said, lifting up his arm. Wong Kar-Wai thanked the crowd graciously. Co-stars Jones and Marshall exchanged notes on what it was like working with Jude Law, giggling, “I kissed him first!” (Marshall) and “But I kissed him twice!” (Jones) before hugging each other. (Both singers make their theatrical debut in the film, although Marshall’s cameo as Law’s estranged girlfriend was written in at the last minute.) Meanwhile, Strathairn humbly spoke about what an honor it was to star in the film, before joking that the auteur’s hazy cinematography were actually a side effect of Wong Kar-Wai’s trademark sunglasses.
Caught having a good time at the after-party at the SoHo Grand penthouse, Jones said, “In music videos I just have to be myself; [it] is almost more uncomfortable than pretending to be somebody else, which is almost liberating.” But overall? “I like my day job.”
I can’t wait to see this movie. I like the director and the cast… Norah Jones looks adorable with the pixie haircut.
Love that Nora’s voice! Don’t know who the other gal is.. Chan Marshall. Anybody??
Chan Marshall is CAT POWER.
“Wong” is the director’s “last,” or family, name for use in subsequent references. “Kar-Wai” is his “first,” or given, name.
This is interesting in a postcolonialist perspective — how Asian, and specifically Chinese, directors are taking to the mythical (in the best sense) American story — the road trip.
CHAN MARSHALL IS CAT POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!
VIVA CHAN!!!!!
Gonna check this out – it’s getting positive buzz from (some) of the most unlikely places…