‘Fabulous’ Was Word of Choice for ‘Wild’ Party

The Scene: The hot-ticket Monday night premiere of David Lynch’s “Wild at Heart,” his hotly anticipated film starring Nicolas Cage, Laura Dern and Dern’s real-life mother, Diane Ladd. Guests schlepped to the jillion-plex at Universal City for the screening (which started a half-hour late) and then schlepped to warehouse-esque club Arena in Hollywood for a late-night party. They shouted above the thump-thump-thumping house music and used the word “fabulous” an awful lot when describing Lynch’s film.

The Buzz: It was no surprise that a whopping majority of the film-goers gave raves to “Wild at Heart,” considering it won the Palm d’Or at Cannes and considering how many Lynch fanatics have emerged since the “Twin Peaks” phenomenon. In fact, spotting “TP” stars at the premiere became a major source of entertainment. Talk of “Wild at Heart” seemed to overshadow (at least for now) curiosity over who killed Laura Palmer, but Grace Zabriskie (who stars in both the film and the TV series) says she still gets asked who offed the homecoming queen.

Who Was There: The film’s stars--Cage, Dern, Ladd, Harry Dean Stanton, Crispin Glover, Zabriskie, J.E. Freeman--and director Lynch; plus “Twin Peaks” cast members Michael Ontkean, Eric DaRe, Dana Ashbrook and Madchen Amick; also composer/musician Danny Elfman, Steve Allen and Jayne Meadows, “Cry Baby’s” Kim McGuire, Jennifer Tilly) and Sam Simon, Martha Plimpton, Dana Delaney, Andy Garcia, designer Gregory Poe, and Barbara and Timothy Leary.

Dress Mode: Black, of course, was de rigueur , as were sideburns for men and short-short skirts for women. A couple of people sported Eraserhead-esque hairdos, although it was uncertain whether this was a fashion statement gone awry or an homage to David Lynch. Tattoos were also plentiful, including a press-on “Wild at Heart” tat one women sported on her arm. “I’ve had it on since Friday,” she said, quickly adding: “and I’ve showered every day!”

Chow: Guests ravaged the buffet in a matter of minutes, leaving some tired cauliflower, a mound of shredded red cabbage and a big bowl of brown liquid sitting on tables bathed in an odd yellow light. Whatever had been there must have been pretty good. At some bars the drinks were free, at others they weren’t, but weary bartenders looked grateful for any tips.

Overheard: “You know,” said one man to his friend, surveying the scene, “I really feel like I’m in my element.”

Quoted: Lynch, in his trademark white shirt buttoned up to the neck, said he’s been pleased so far with reaction to the film, which was at one time headed for an X rating. “I didn’t get to talk to everybody (at the screening), I kind of left fast, but I could feel the audience was with the film. . . . People are digging this film,” he said. “A couple of critics are not gonna dig it, but the reaction seems to be good.”

Entertainment: On platforms above the dance floor were a woman dancing with a real snake knotted around her waist and a fire-eater. Almost no one danced, preferring to stand on the balcony that ran the perimeter of the club, or else squish into the faux VIP lounge, where it was body-to-body and stiletto heels were ground into unsuspecting metatarsal arches.

Glitches: Why, oh why, must so many people insist on having their parties at Arena? Despite the club’s enormity, air seems always at a premium, especially on the upper levels (hot air rises, remember?). Just pulling into the parking lot from Santa Monica Boulevard is tempting the car accident gods. Anyone know of a Plan B?