Chris Rock Jokes “Paul Thomas Anderson Never Cast Me In Sh-t” At National Board Of Review Gala While Touting ‘Licorice Pizza’

deadline.com:

Chris Rock called Licorice Pizza “probably the best movie I saw this year,” introducing his friend the director Paul Thomas Anderson at the National Board of Review gala. “I only saw about four movies.”The MGM film took NBR’s Best Picture and Anderson best director at awards announced late last year and celebrated with gusto at Cipriani 42nd Street in NYC last night after skipping last year due to Covid.Anderson is “a person who has never cast me in sh-t.

Nothing,” said Rock, scanning the room for star wattage. “No Spielberg? Did Will Smith show up?” (no and yes). “Sean Penn? Who I know has something to do with this war.

I know he’s mixed up in it. Sean Penn is being water-boarded as we speak.” Penn (not present) had been on the ground in Ukraine shooting a documentary for Vice Studios about the Russian invasion.References to ongoing violence were sprinkled throughout the evening but winners and presenters focused on their craft and deep connection to the films being honored.Will Smith described the leap of faith required to play a real person. “You get to know them, you talk to their family and you hope that one day the magic thing will happen,” he said. “With Richard Williams, it was taking longer.”He won the NBR Best Actor award playing the father to tennis greats Venus and Serena in King Richard.

The role clicked, he said, when he put on the red, tight sports shorts William always wore. “He had a vision of himself. He was trying to play a role for the world in order to be recognized for that thing he felt inside of him, that he felt he deserved a certain amount of respect.” He couldn’t get it, “but dreamed of for his children.”“I can’t even concentrate, he’s so beautiful,” Smith interrupted himself, noting Bradley