By Elliot V. Kotek
Editor-at-Large
(January 6, 2010)

Tuesday night's Palm Springs International Film Festival Gala was a dizzying BLAST - Clint Eastwood presenting an award to Morgan Freeman; Michelle Pfeiffer presenting to Jeff Bridges; Norman Jewison to Jason Reitman; Diablo Cody to Quentin Tarantino; Rob Marshall to Marion Cotillard; Lee Daniels to a seemingly under-the-influence Mariah Carey (see the video here: dlisted.com/node/35510); Morgan Freeman to Helen Mirren; Ivan Reitman to Anna Kendrick; Sean Penn reciting the lyrics to "Humans from Earth" in his presentation to the song's writer, T-Bone Burnett; and dozens of other A-listers in the 2,000-strong audience enjoying it all on the way to the fest raising more than $1 million for the Palm Springs Film Society and its educational programs from the occasion.

Quentin Tarantino and Lee Daniels at the Palm Springs International Film Festival Gala

Had to skip out on the afterparty at the Parker Palms to do some research for this morning's Talking Pictures Contender Series. I replaced Variety's Peter Bart in the hot seat, interviewing director Rob Marshall following a screening of his latest award-buzzy flick, "Nine," which has received mixed reviews but also garnered five Golden Globe nominations and dozens of other accolades. Personally, I think the film is WELL worth the couple of hours; offers some really great moments reminiscent of "All that Jazz"; and Daniel Day-Lewis, Fergie, Cotillard and Dame Judi Dench are FANTASTIC.

Marshall is a pro with the crowd and, amongst a host of topics, discussed how the epic cast came into place (Sophia Loren was first, then Penelope Cruz), growing up in an era when the American musical was in its golden age; the success of "Chicago" and following that up with "Memoirs from a Geisha," his road into the business, the art of directing, having approached Javier Bardem originally to play the Daniel Day-Lewis role (not being able to previously "dream high enough to think of casting the world's greatest actor") and losing co-screenwriter (and "The English Patient" director) Anthony Minghella, and then revealed that he'd brought along a music video of Cotillard singing "Take it All" for its U.S. Premiere screening before the receptive and responsive crowd.

Helen Mirren at the Palm Springs International Film Festival Gala

I've just finished watching "Dumbstruck" and will be posting my review of the documentary about ventriloquists from director Mark Goffman (more normally known for his penmanship on "The Beast," "Law & Order: SVU," "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" and "The West Wing"), so check that out very soon and stay tuned for more reviews over the next couple of weeks.

All photos courtesy Image.net