“Hello, my friends!,” Alexander Payne says, arms outstretched. Embracing—or trying to—all of us at once, he is, as always, instantly welcoming, less like the greatest American filmmaker of his generation, which he is, than a beloved high-school English teacher. One who is about to take me and a few mutual friends on a field trip.
Artist as miserable wretch? Never, in my experience. Turns out, if you’re any good, you are your work. And if your work’s any good, it’s instantly welcoming to the audience. Even if it’s a horror film. It must lead us in, anticipate our needs. As Martin Amis said, be a host. Better still, be a great host. I think immediately of Alexander’s father, a restaurateur. Pull up a chair. Leave the rest to me.
