"Suspicion simmered and confusion reigned in the palm-potted halls of the Four Seasons Hotel on Monday, as the heated business of promoting holiday and Oscar-season movies was mixed with uncertainty over what publicist represented what movie star or filmmaker and for how long. The firing of the publicity veteran Leslee Dart last week by her longtime partner, Pat Kingsley - chairwoman of the industry's leading publicity agency, PMK/HBH - set off an unusual scramble for position among filmmakers and their usually low-profile media representatives," Sharon Waxman reports for the New York Times (free subscription required to view).