It was indeed one of the most glamorous and star studded movie premieres I have covered and attended in NY this movie season. Iconic Hollywood movie star Tom Cruise and acclaimed award winning director Bryan Singer along with celebrities and special guests made their way down the red carpet on Dec. 15 at the movie premiere of their much talked about and anticipated film”Valkyrie”.
The biggest movie premiere ever to happen so far this year and The Ravi Report was front and center with details, exclusive interviews and photos that will only be seen on this entertainment news & exclusive event coverage blog. The premiere took place at the prestigious Ross Hall at the famous Time Warner Center amidst a media frenzy that I had never seen before. NY press, foreign press and almost every major magazine & newspaper outlet were on the red carpet vying for interviews with Singer and Cruise and other celebrities.
Director Bryan Singer is my childhood friend so this was indeed a special night for me as well. It is always nice seeing him at his movie premieres and he was gracious as ever with the media and still is the same smart, talented and personable person I met over 25 years ago. He has never forgotten his friends and his roots in Princeton, NJ.
The film already has generated a great deal of press for both director Singer and Cruise, who portrays the real life role of German officer Claus Von Stauffenberg who in 1943 hatched a plan to assassinate Adolf Hitler.
“I am really thrilled to be here and hoping that it all goes well. My whole family is here tonight” said Singer.
“My mom has seen it already but my dad will see it tonight and alot of my friends from Jersey that still live in Jersey are here as well tonight and for me personally that is a big and very exciting thing to have my family and friends here” the director exclusively told The Ravi Report.
Bryan also told me his movies are usually premiered in LA and that very rarely do his films have a NY premiere. so “Valkyrie”had an extra special meaning to him.The award winning director also said that it was especially heartwarming to see that the press and the critics are saying positive things about the film so early in without a nationwide release yet. The film opens Christmas day and both Singer and Cruise are proud of all their hard work and dedication the film and it’s release.
“Tom and I are most proud of that fact that as much as it’s an assassination thriller, it’s all true. It happened. It’s a real story, true story. The characters are true and what happened to them is real and that is just the added bonus” said the “Usual Suspects” & “Superman” director.
Mass hysteria took place when the “Rainman” & “Jerry Mcguire”superstar took to the carpet. When Cruise entered the room, everything pretty much turned into mayhem with cameras flashing second and second, reporters screaming the actor’s name and security trying to push back the overzealous reporters hoping for a quick sound bite from the star. It was great to see that after 25 years of being a top movie star, Cruise commands the kind of adoration and respectablility that Hollywood legends work a lifetime to achieve. Tom was gracious, unassuming and excited that his movie was being so welcomed by the NY press.
Tom answered the basic red carpet questions about his family and life in NY with a pool of reports.
“My kids have the life that I always wanted. They travel the world, envelope different cultures and people, learn about their history..that’s how I raise my kids so they have full exposure to the world and ideas and philosophies and make choices by themselves” said the award winning superstar.
The devoted father has made NY his permanent home lately due to wife Katie’s broadway debut and is often seen and photographed around town having fun and being a nuturing parent to his kids.
“Whatever they want to be, I tell them to just do it. But I have a thing that if you really want to do it, just do it. Don’t be causual about it” he tells The Ravi Report.
Tom revealed that he has had a place for 25 years in Manhattan and says he loves the theater, going to live performances and the people.
I asked him if he finds it challenging to be such a high profiled family man.
“I am trying man. I am going for it…that is what you got to do!” said the star as he flashed his trademark million dollar movie star smile.
Tom is also spontanous I found out. After my interview, he politely asked if he could see my camera. I obliged and the superstar then turns towards me and graciously proceeds to take a picture of the both of us on my camera. I thanked him for taking the photo and we shook hands before he was lead off the red carpet by his professional team of publicists and taken into the screening room with Singer and the other celebrities.
NASCAR iconic driver Jeff Gordon who came with his stunning wife Ingrid Vandebousch told The Ravi Report that he was too busy driving race cars to keep up with all the business of Hollywood movies these days but did appreciate Tom’s and Bryan’s work. The famous race car driver attends movie premieres with Ingrid but due to his hectic and world travels, he finds it hard to see all of the latest blockbusters. But he was he said he was very excited to see Tom’s film.
“We had a conversation with Tom and Katie not to long ago and he is amazing and I am really looking forward to see his new film” states the first ever NASCAR driver to host Saturday Night Live in 2003.
Since this was a very special premiere and The Ravi Report had exclusive access to interviews with the cast members, there will be follow up in another blog shortly with additional interviews, exclusive photos and a review of “Valkyrie”.
Ravi
1
December 28, 2008
Ravi, great job with the blog.
I felt as if I was at the premiere!
Excellent photos…worth their weight in gold.
Keep up the fab work. Movie was very good.
December 30, 2008
WOW!!!!!!! how did you get those photos of you and Tom Cruise?!?! Thats amazing. Keep rocking the RaviReport in ’09. its time to put perez out of biznatch!
January 15, 2009
Great job with this blog Ravi…awesome pics…hope to see more soon…