After a whole lot of holiday-ing, it was with refreshed excitement that I headed over to the 2007 New York Film Critics Circle Awards at the Spotlight Live penthouse theater (where PAPER’s Nightlife Awards were recently held). As we waited for the red carpet action, the conversation among the photographers bounced between “We’re missing the GMAC Bowl” to "Does Britany have even a ghost of a chance to survive?" Most everyone on this side of the lens remembered her sunny, smiling face mouthing the words "Hi, y'all" and wished her well! When the heavy celebrity stuff started to arrive we snapped to attention. Heavy-hitters like Sidney Lumet, Ruby Dee, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Patricia Clarkson, Daniel Day-Lewis, Amy Ryan, Sarah Polley and Javier Bardem sauntered down the red carpet. A highlight of the evening was the fresh-faced Amy Adams, who posed enthusiastically for us and seemed to embody just how delirious and delicious stardom is in the beginning and got us to thinking about what pressure there must be when that blooming thrill is over and the urge to hide or escape takes over…

Amy Ryan

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Ruby Dee

Ellen Barkin

Peter Sarsgaard and Maggie Gyllenhaal

Javier Bardem