Last night, the Museum of Modern Art hosted their 14th annual Film Benefit to honor Penélope Cruz, whose latest movie, Parallel Mothers, is set to release on December 24. The night began with COVID testing and a red carpet, where most stars wore head-to-toe Chanel. The brand has been a sponsor of the annual Film Benefit since 2011, and all the ladies in the restroom who used the Chanel No. 5 perfume next to the sink were thankful, myself included.
Inside the gala, friends of Cruz honored her with speeches, including Rebecca Hall, Rosalía, Ricky Martin, Lupita Nyong’o, and director Pedro Almodóvar. Others who were on the carpet included Anne Hathaway, Leslie Mann, Judd Apatow, Kristen Wiig, Riley Keough, and more.
The Cut stopped a few celebrities to ask a very serious question (in honor of our very own dream date … who did not show … Oscar Isaac): Who here would be your movie dream date to see your favorite film?
During Penélope Cruz’s speech, she talked about renting all of Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar’s movies and watching them on Betamax videotapes. It made sense when she said her favorite film was Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, an Almodóvar film from the late ’80s. When we asked who her dream date would be, Cruz’s representative Amanda Silverman coughed: “Amanda Silverman, of course,” said Cruz, laughing.
Succession Actress Dasha Nekrasova named Hellraiser as her favorite film. When asked who at the event would be her dream date to watch it with, she responded: “Who’s here?” and quickly named Zola’s Riley Keough.
“My favorite movie of all time? Jámon Jámon,” said singer Rosalía. “There’s a lot, but this one is at the top of my head.” For her dream date, she laughed. “I’ll watch with Penélope.”
Theater producer Jordan Roth said he’ll always watch Steel Magnolias on the TV, no matter how far into the movie he walks into it. Not only does he want to watch it alongside Diane Kruger and Anne Hathaway, but he wants to act it out alongside them. “Let’s cast it right now. Anne is Julia Roberts. Dianne is … who does Daryl Hannah play? That one. And I’m Dolly Parton.”
During Penélope Cruz’s speech, she talked about renting all of Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar’s movies and watching them on Betamax videotapes. It made sense when she said her favorite film was Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, an Almodóvar film from the late ’80s. When we asked who her dream date would be, Cruz’s representative Amanda Silverman coughed: “Amanda Silverman, of course,” said Cruz, laughing.
Succession Actress Dasha Nekrasova named Hellraiser as her favorite film. When asked who at the event would be her dream date to watch it with, she responded: “Who’s here?” and quickly named Zola’s Riley Keough.
“My favorite movie of all time? Jámon Jámon,” said singer Rosalía. “There’s a lot, but this one is at the top of my head.” For her dream date, she laughed. “I’ll watch with Penélope.”
Theater producer Jordan Roth said he’ll always watch Steel Magnolias on the TV, no matter how far into the movie he walks into it. Not only does he want to watch it alongside Diane Kruger and Anne Hathaway, but he wants to act it out alongside them. “Let’s cast it right now. Anne is Julia Roberts. Dianne is … who does Daryl Hannah play? That one. And I’m Dolly Parton.”
MoMA’s department of film has over 1.5 million film stills, and Cruz joins past honorees like George Clooney, Laura Dern, and Tilda Swinton. Who knows, maybe Oscar will show next year.