Features
PLAYING FOR THE WORLD | 78
As the planet awaits this month’s kickoff in South Africa, Annie Leibovitz trains her camera on the World Cup’s hottest stars—from Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo to Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba—and A. A. Gill pays homage to “the Beautiful Game.” (Fie on those who call it “soccer.”)
THE MAN WHO TRIED TO MANAGE MURDOCH| 90
Marcus Brauchli was named managing editor of The Wall Street Journal on the very day Rupert Murdoch made his bid for the paper’s parent company. In an excerpt from her new book, former Journal reporter Sarah Ellison tells of Brauchli’s bitter fight to keep Murdoch out of the newsroom.
STRING AWAKENING | 97
Damian Fowler and Jonas Fredwall Karlsson spotlight Alan Gilbert, the New York Philharmonic’s new conductor, for whom the mighty orchestra is more like home.
THE TEMPTATION OF TIGER WOODS
PART II: LOSING CONTROL | 98
Tiger Woods is competing again, but questions remain:
What really happened that Thanksgiving night? And how deep did his betrayal go? With key sources, including three more of Woods’s mistresses, Mark Seal plays the back nine of an in-depth investigation. Photographs by Mark Seliger.
TISCH FULFILLMENT | 106
Brian Williams and Todd Eberle spotlight Jonathan Tisch, a leader of the civic-minded New York dynasty, whose latest book is a wake-up call for Citizen You.
ONE BEWITCHING COED | 108
Like Hermione, the character she has played since she was 9, Emma Watson is smart, poised, and capable. But, as Evgenia Peretz discovers, nothing prepared Watson for the intensity of her Harry Potter stardom, which continued into her freshman year at Brown University. Photographs by Patrick Demarchelier.
THE WHITE HOUSE’S DINNER THEATER | 114
State dinners can be a vital diplomatic tool, but, as the Obamas learned when their first one was crashed, they can also make the wrong statement. Following the resignation of high-flying White House social secretary Desirée Rogers, Bob Colacello learns how power entertaining has changed at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Fanfair
30 DAYS IN THE LIFE OF THE CULTURE | 37
The Dough Rollers’ folk sound | 37
Assouline’s destination sensations; J. Crew’s well-traveled debut; Joan Rivers takes center stage in A Piece Of Work; G.M. drives into the future; suit up in pretty prints | 38
Jaden Smith soars in The Karate Kid; Lisa Robinson interviews Eminem | 40
Our favorite items for fun in the sun | 42
Elissa Schappell’s Hot Type | 44
My Stuff—stylist Caroline Sieber; Tom Ford’s bold new collection; Pat Mcgrath’s beauty bag | 46
Vanities
AMAZING GRACE | 49
Ed Coaster reminisces about his late friend J. D. Salinger; Howard Schatz captures Hope Davis in character | 50
George Wayne gets in the ring with LL Cool J | 52
Columns
THE NORMAN CONQUESTS | 54
Norman Mailer may have been America’s last larger-than-life writer, a juggernaut of ego, talent, and testosterone. Nearly three years after his death, James Wolcott parses a spate of bios and memoirs—including one by sixth wife Norris Church Mailer—that point to one fatal weakness, in both the man and his work.
WHERE BUG SPRAY MEETS BROADWAY | 56
Zach Braff and Tim Sheaffer spotlight Stagedoor Manor, where many summer campers (including Braff, Natalie Portman, and Robert Downey Jr.) hit the trail to stardom.
THE LOST GOOD-BYE | 58
Is it all just smoke monsters and mirrors? As Lost twists and winds to a finale, Jim Windolf finds the hit show’s co-creator and producer focused on the only plotline that really matters. Mark Seliger photographs Matthew Fox, Josh Holloway, Evangeline Lilly, and their fellow castaways.
DREAM WEAVERS | 60
Matt Tyrnauer and Wayne Maser spotlight Italy’s Zegna family, marking a century at the heart of men’s fashion.
WHEN WASHINGTON TOOK ON WALL STREET| 68
In the darkest days of the Great Depression, the Senate unleashed star prosecutor Ferdinand Pecora on J.P. Morgan and other Wall Street “banksters,” exposing their role in the collapse. Today, as Goldman Sachs counters charges of fraud and the G.O.P. fights reform, Alan Brinkley recalls that spectacular reckoning, and wonders where our Pecora is. THATCHER IN THE RYE | 73
Francis Wheen spotlights Christopher Hitchens, whose memoir, Hitch 22, is as protean as its subject.
RESURRECTION ROAD | 75
Tom Freston spotlights the living miracles of the crusade against aids in Zambia, subject of this month’s HBO documentary The Lazarus Effect.
HALL OF FAME | 77
Ted Danson nominates the SeaWeb coalition—scientists, jewelry-industry leaders, and conservationists—bent on saving the ocean’s coral reefs. Photograph by Gasper Tringale.
ET CETERA
EDITOR’S LETTER | 18
60 MINUTES POLL | 20
CONTRIBUTORS | 22
OUT TO LUNCH John Waters | 26
LETTERS Hitchens’s Unholy Re-Write | 28
FAIRGROUND | 32
PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE Taki | 140
Vanityfair.com
THIS MONTH’S ONLINE EXCLUSIVES
Check out VF Daily for the latest on Hollywood, Washington, and the world’s royals. Als pay a visit to Fair Play, our World Cup blog.
To find Condé Nast Magazines online, visit www.condenet.com
To find VANITY FAIR, visit www.vanityfair.com
ON THE COVER
Didier Drogba and Cristiano Ronaldo were photographed in Milan and Madrid, respectively. Drogba wears custom-made briefs by Calvin Klein Underwear. Ronaldo wears custom-made briefs by Emporio Armani. Drogba’s grooming products by Bumble and Bumble and Dolce & Gabbana. Ronaldo’s grooming products by Aveda. Drogba’s grooming by Grazia Riverditi and Antonello Rossello. Ronaldo’s grooming by Johnnie Sapong. Set design by Kyre Chenven for Mary Howard Studio. Special thanks to Charlie Stillitano and Fabrizio Russo. Styled by Jessica Diehl. Photographed exclusively for V.F. by Annie Leibovitz.
THE WHITE HOUSE’S DINNER THEATER | 114
State dinners can be a vital diplomatic tool, but, as the Obamas learned when their first one was crashed, they can also make the wrong statement. Following the resignation of high-flying White House social secretary Desirée Rogers, Bob Colacello learns how power entertaining has changed at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.