NAMES
Screen gem
Actor Willem Dafoe, who plays good and bad guys with equal grace, was feted by the Brattle Film Foundation last night at the Charles Hotel. We're told Dafoe took a break from Lars Von Trier's "Antichrist," now filming in the Netherlands, to attend. Previous honorees include Geraldine Chaplin and filmmaker Brad Anderson.
High Hopes, high spirits
Ray Allen and his wife, Shannon, were among the familiar faces at the Joslin Diabetes Center's High Hopes Gala Saturday. (Shannon wowed the crowd when she joined the band for a rendition of Alicia Keys's "No One.") Other boldfacers at the black-tie bash included Celts CEO Wyc Grousbeck and wife Corinne, C's managing partner Steve Pagliuca and wife Judy, Big Papi's wife, Tiffany Ortiz, onetime House Speaker Tom Finneran, and former Boston Common staffer Anna Cheshire Levitan.Mass. appeal for Uma
It's been years since Uma Thurman lived in the Bay State, but the "Kill Bill" star still has fond memories of Massachusetts. At a shindig Saturday for Room to Grow, the Amherst-bred actress said it felt good to be home. "I love Massachusetts," she said. "I love everything it stands for. We could secede, really. We have fine fertile farmland, we have superior social policies, we allow people who love each other to marry." Room to Grow, a nonprofit helping needy moms with baby supplies and parenting, was founded by Thurman's buddy Julie Burns, wife of documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, both of whom were at Westin Boston Waterfront. Also there were Room to Grow executive director Saskia Epstein, her husband Paul Epstein, her brother-in-law Theo Epstein, and Sox owner John Henry. Uma, who sits on the Room to Grow board, helped Mike Barnicle wheedle people from their wallets during the evening's auction.A striking occasion
Sox hurler Manny Delcarmen hosted his annual "Bowlin' Strikes for Schools" benefit for the Boston Educational Development Fund. The Hyde Park hero was joined at Kings Lanes by Sox brass Ben Cherington, onetime Pats tight end Christian Fauria, and NESN's Heidi Watney (above, with Delcarmen).From on high
You had to look up to glimpse Lauren Conrad at the Estate Saturday. "The Hills" star hosted a fashion show at Ed Kane's Back Bay club, but spent much of the time ensconced in a second-floor VIP suite, looking down at her screaming subjects. In the end, Conrad, surrounded by security, joined the crowd, thanking her predominantly female fans for coming out. . . . Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka and wife Tomoyo were at Saturday's Silk Road Gala to benefit the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence. The 15th annual event was cochaired by Citizens chairman Larry Fish and Goodwin Proctor's Regina Pisa.Nyuking it up
The Farrelly brothers are working frantically to finish the script for "The Three Stooges." Peter Farrelly reports that he and brother Bobby are holed up on the Cape until it's completed. "We've been working night and day," Farrelly told us during a beverage break at Scampo. The brothers are optimistic that at least some of the movie will be shot in their native Rhode Island, and it'll be in theaters this time next year. So who'll play the silly Stooges, you say? No one's signed on yet, but Peter said plenty of names are being bandied about. How about Benicio del Toro as Moe? "He's a huge Stooges fan," said Farrelly. Jeff Daniels is being considered for Larry and Andover's own Michael Chiklis could yuk it up as Curly. The Farrellys had been working on a movie called "Hall Pass," but that was shelved when they were given a deadline to deliver "The Three Stooges."
The comic and the cook
Denis Leary lent his considerable talents to "Comics Come Home" Saturday. The laugh riot benefited his buddy Cam Neely's Foundation for Cancer Care and the Neely Cancer Fund. . . . Anti-Martha Rachael Ray was at Sur La Table at the Mall at Chestnut Hill signing copies of her new book Saturday.
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