And the award for at least one of the smartest, wittiest award recipients in SBIFF history goes to ... Robert Downey Jr., who held the room of the Arlington Theatre in epic fashion last night. The brilliant actor whose career has had its ups and downs and downs and outs proved to be alternately humble and mock-cocky, self-effacing, and appreciative of his current good life as a family man. In a full-bodied tête-à-tête with Leonard Maltin, Downey Jr. was both off script and on point. In short, he rocked (see Leslie Dinaberg’s report here ).
His career in filmography is so crazily varied that it made sense to have two pals/presenters on hand for the Modern Master award occasion, starting with Rob Lowe, whose connection goes back to high school in Santa Monica and includes membership in the ‘80s Brat Pack scene. As Lowe quipped, his friend “met the challenge of overcoming addiction and the brat pack.” When talking about his sodden, drunken role in David Fincher's brilliant Zodiac, Downey commented “I might have become that character if I hadn't quit drinking and using.”
Downey Jr. recalled coming to the Montecito Inn during his prep work for one of his finest roles, Charlie Chaplin, who famously stayed at the Inn. He remembered telling the director “I’m going to become Chaplin. This will be my make-or-break role,” adding that “Hollywood — it can be a hard knocks space.”