Good Units: Jill Zarin Rubs Up Against Handsome Dick

by BILLY GRAY · March 17, 2010

[All images by Jonathon Ziegler for PMc] Grizzled NYC punks (like Handsome Dick Manitoba) mingled with reality TV darlings (like Jill Zarin), stiff scenesters and stiffer suits (like Jill's husband Bobby) at cavernous basement lair Good Units last night at a showing of The Runaways production stills.-

Directed by Floria Sigismondi (the woman responsible for Marilyn Manson's "Beautiful People" music video), The Runaways is the story of the eponymous '70s lady punk band fronted by Joan Jett and Cherie Currie. Relics of the era (including former Dictators lead singer and Avenue B bar owner Manitoba) were out in force to view a gallery of Sigismondi's photographs from the shoot. Sadly, studded leather jackets and pocket chains were outnumbered by spiffy plaid shirts and business suits.

But at least the photos kept it real. There was Dakota Fanning reclining on a couch in a very '70s wood-paneled rec room, smoking a cigarette. And there she was again rocking out onstage (she plays Currie) in little more than a pair of black undies. The 16-year old Fanning might not ruffle as many feathers playing a substance abusing rocker as she did in that gang rape movie, but the role is another victory in her quest for gold medal precociousness. Co-star Kristen Stewart (who plays Jett) also strays from her sparkly vampire roots in the film, which comes out April 9th.

The ridiculously labyrinthine procession into the Good Units basement space almost made it feel like an underground punk dive--Bowery circa 1978. But then there were the Zarins, dressed to the nines, who stayed very briefly to check out the scene (although the shades Bobby wore in the dimly lit room throughout the party likely prevented a close look at the displayed art).

Music ran the gamut from Iggy Pop to to Nick Gilder to The Strokes and the Yeah Yeah Yeas. Also reinforcing the punk-ish vibe were the guests puffing away inside while plopped down on the room's gym bleacher centerpiece. It's sad to think that smoking at a party qualifies as rebellion these days, but I'll take it.

Hesh, Nick Poidebia, Ashley Math, Derek Kettela