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"I never know what films will have an impact either socially or politically," he said. "It's a tough one, because sometimes things can be too on the nose. You hope you're involved with things that will just make an impact, that will affect people somehow. Sometimes that's socially or politically, and sometimes that's just soulfully."

Christopher Reeve, a longtime activist even before his paralyzing accident in 1995 when he was thrown from a horse in an equestrian competition, used his own celebrity for good causes ranging from the Make-a-Wish Foundation, to Amnesty International, to the Natural Resources Defense Council.

After his accident and extensive, painful rehabilitation, he traveled constantly throughout the country to speak on behalf of other people with disabilities and also actively lobbied in Washington D.C. In September 2007, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act (H.R. 1727) to be considered by the full House, a bill intended to improve the quality of life for those with spinal cord injuries.

Last week during the NYC Marathon, Team Reeve, made up of 50 runners, raised $400,000 for the foundation

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"What they built is a pretty extraordinary thing, and I just want to keep supporting it as long as I can," said Hoffman. "Hopefully from year to year it will keep building upon what they left, so that's why I'm here."

Hoffman said that in choosing his own roles, he's always been surprised about the films that have had a lasting impact.

"I never know what films will have an impact either socially or politically," he said. "It's a tough one, because sometimes things can be too on the nose. You hope you're involved with things that will just make an impact, that will affect people somehow. Sometimes that's socially or politically, and sometimes that's just soulfully."

Christopher Reeve, a longtime activist even before his paralyzing accident in 1995 when he was thrown from a horse in an equestrian competition, used his own celebrity for good causes ranging from the Make-a-Wish Foundation, to Amnesty International, to the Natural Resources Defense Council.

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Lee and Bob Woodruff, whose own story has come to parallel in many ways the Reeve's, when television journalist Bob Woodruff became the first news anchor in Iraq to be wounded, nearly killed by a roadside bomb. He sustained a serious head injury and subsequently, he and his wife Lee established the Bob Woodruff Family Fund for Traumatic Brain Injury.

"It just so happened after I woke up, after 36 days in my coma, I looked up at the TV and saw that Dana had passed away, and I will never forget that," said Bob Woodruff. “That was one of the first things that I saw. That's how close this family is to so many people in this country."

Another friend of the Reeve's, Academy Award-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, who met the couple after college at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, said it was a "no-brainer" to come out that evening for the foundation.

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Celebrity friends and supporters of the Reeve's cause, including Diane Sawyer, Robin and Marsha Williams, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Anne Hathaway, came out in full force to the Marriot Marquis to honor the couple's advocacy work. Christopher passed away in 2004, and Dana passed away from lung cancer at the age of 44 in 2006.

Their children, Matthew, Alexandra and Will, were on hand at the gala to honor Meryl Streep, the recipient of the Dana Reeve Hope Award; Lee and Bob Woodruff, the recipients of the Christopher Reeve Spirit of Courage Award and Henry G. Stifel, one of the founding members of the foundation and recipient of the Visionary Leadership Award.

"Meryl's been a loyal and great friend to the foundation and we’re happy to pay tribute to her this evening," said Alexandra Reeve.

"I knew him for a long time, many, many years," said Meryl Streep of Reeve. "I'm very, very honored to be here, and I'm a little humbled, because I feel like I'm standing in light that [Christopher and Dana Reeve] cast. They just really were like a lighthouse for this issue, and so charismatic and so effective in their advocacy."

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Quite frankly I think the less you know, the better off you are going to be. You are not going to be straining yourself, trying to digest every single line of dialogue. You just kind of strap yourself in and enjoy the ride, that kind of thing."

That's just what Julianne Moore, Bruce Greenwood, and Yolanda Moss did; they co-star in the movie and joined a throng of Haynes fans at the premiere. There was Lauren Bacall, Adrian Grenier, Glenn Close, Justin Bateman, Eva Amurri, Bebe Neuwirth, Patricia Clarkson, Richard Belzer and Bart Freundlich.

Dylan's music has had a profound impact over the years, even on 28-year-old Heath Ledger, who wasn't born when Dylan rose to superstardom in the Sixties, but who insisted that age has nothing to do with appreciating the music – or "I'm Not There" either.

"I was definitely a fan of Dylan. I think Dylan was someone who I had scheduled somewhat, in the future, down the line, to become obsessed by. I do get obsessed with people, musicians, and artists," Ledger admitted. "I think that Todd prematurely invited me into this obsession, on this film."

The film-festival favorite opens in limited release on November 21.

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Heath Ledger talked about the film to the press earlier in the week, and explained that a knowledge of Dylan's life and music isn't a necessity to enjoying the flick.

"I don't think you need to be a Dylan genius in order to appreciate it as a story, a film, or the experience of it," Ledger said. "It is a film, it is a movie, and it's not a quiz. There is no Q&A afterwards, as an audience member. Quite frankly I think the less you know, the better off you are going to be. You are not going to be straining yourself, trying to digest every single line of dialogue. You just kind of strap yourself in and enjoy the ride, that kind of thing."

That's just what Julianne Moore, Bruce Greenwood, and Yolanda Moss did; they co-star in the movie and joined a throng of Haynes fans at the premiere. There was Lauren Bacall, Adrian Grenier, Glenn Close, Justin Bateman, Eva Amurri, Bebe Neuwirth, Patricia Clarkson, Richard Belzer and Bart Freundlich.