Elton John Rocks Opening Night Of The Tribeca Film Festival

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The Tribeca Film Festival kicked off last night with a screening of Cameron Crowe's documentary The Union, about the making of Elton John and Leon Russell's album of the same name. Mayor Bloomberg, Martin Scorsese, Lauren Hutton, Denis Leary, Rainne Wilson, and more came out to watch the flick at the World Financial Plaza and see Elton perform live!

Martin Scorsese introduced the film with Leon Russel giving  a brief video message. Cameron Crowe, currently on location for We Bought A Zoo, was also beamed in.  The screening was free though guests still had to line up for tickets which were given on a first come first serve basis. Despite the chilly weather and lack of seats-causing some people to stand for the hour and some change film-everyone stayed. The reward for shivering it out? Sir Elton live!

He was worth aching arches and numb fingers. The Piano Man played all the favorites: Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer, Yellow Brick Road, and closed down with a word of thanks to New York and the tune Your Song.

[Martin Scorsese]

[Dolores Rice, Andrew McCarthy]

[R.J. Cutler, David O. Russell, Janet Grillo]

[Holiday Wilson, Rainne Wilson]

[Lauren Hutton]

[Anna Bingemann, Griffin Dunne, Arianna Huffington]

[Denis Leary, Ann Leary]

[Rula Jebreal, Julian Schnabel]

[Shiloh Strong, Rider Strong (aka-That kid from Boy Meets World . He is still alive!!!!!!) How did I not know this? Was there an Internet death meme going on about him so long ago I have forgotten it, but it remains embedded in my subconscious? Regardless, someone call Topanga and get this reunion show rolling stat.)]

And finally, the man of the hour doing his thing, Sir Elton John:

[Via]