Styles & Scenes

Follow those Oscar nominees!

Thursday was a busy, busy day for some Oscar nominees.

The Dior beauty folks hosted a late-night, candlelit dinner party graced by Naomi Watts, Kate Bosworth, Lindsay Lohan, Diane Kruger, Emmy Rossum and Joy Bryant on the Chateau Marmont patio in Hollywood, Calif.

Best actress Oscar nominee Keira Knightley — staying in the Chateau — even popped down briefly with some pals. But the “Pride & Prejudice” beauty was a bit hard to recognize because she was suddenly sporting very long, thick hair. Hmmm. Extensions? Seems very likely.

Couldn't tell if she was also wearing the new brand new H. Stern right-hand diamond ring that she picked out and took home from the Diamond Aquifer Retreat at Soho House the day before. But probably. Wouldn't you?

O-nominated "Brokeback Mountain" couple Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams noticed a few flashes from their Marmont penthouse suite high above the party and called downstairs to get the camera scoop. They were later seen picking up a car down in the garage, sans their baby daughter, Matilda.

Earlier, Oscar nominee Amy Adams — star of “Junebug” — was beaming at the Independent Spirit nominees reception at Casa del Mar in Santa Monica. Adams has a darn good reason to look so happy: she's also nominated for a Spirit best supporting actress award. Spirit nominees “Brokeback Mountain” Oscar fave Ang Lee and his producer James Schamus and their “Capote” Oscar rival, director Bennett Miller were also at Thursday's reception.

The Spirits, being held on Saturday in Santa Monica, mirror the Oscars more closely than ever, causing some folks to wonder: What’s the point? Host Sarah Silverman, that’s what. The show promises to be shorter, less scripted and oh, let’s just say it, waaay more fun than Sunday’s Oscars.

If you want to catch some possible Oscar warm-up acceptance speeches from Terrance Howard, Felicity Huffman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ledger and Williams, George Clooney and/or Paul Haggis, tune in to the live awards broadcast on the IFC Channel at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Also on Thursday, “North Country” Oscar-nominated best actress Charlize Theron wore a slinky black Dior dress to host Vanity Fair’s Amped for Africa benefit at Republic restaurant. By the way, it's official. The actress will be wearing a Dior couture gown to the Oscars. "She doesn't have to wear Dior just because she has a beauty contract with us," revealed a Dior beauty rep. "She just fell in love with the gown."

Miller, his “Capote” Oscar-nommed pal Philip Seymour Hoffman and “Crash” best supporting actor, Oscar-nommer Matt Dillon hit Jason Binn's Los Angeles Confidential pre-Oscar party Thursday night at the Sky Bar in West Hollywood.

And a shockingly sexy Armani-clad Jodie Foster — you are correct, she’s not nominated for anything, just making sure you’re paying attention — attended the U.S.-Ireland Alliance honors for acclaimed directors Jim Sheridan, Neil Jordan and David Holmes at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles.

Seen out of town: The Constant Gardener” Oscar nominee Rachel Weisz was still at home in New York but she turned up at Bloomingdale’s to help launch a new women’s fragrance for Burberry.

Photo Credits:
(Top right) Naomi Watts at the late night Dior private dinner at Chateau Marmont.
(Donato Sardella / WireImage)
(Top left) Oscar nominee Keira Knightly models her new long hair and H. Stern right-hand diamond ring from the Soho House Diamond Aquifer Retreat.
(Lester Cohen / WireImage)
(Bottom) Oscar nominee Charlize Theron hosts Vanity Fair's Amped for Africa event.
(Lester Cohen / WireImage)

Ledger's strange SAG behavior

Some viewers were shocked at Heath Ledger’s apparent gay spoof at the Screen Actors Guild Awards Sunday night.

At the podium with Jake Gyllenhaal to introduce a clip from "Brokeback Mountain," Ledger kept putting his hands on his cocked hip as he read the teleprompter, acting like he was auditioning for the role of Carmen Ghia, the flamboyantly gay choreographer in “The Producers.”

“It was insulting,” said one Hollywood insider after the show. “Heath lost a lot of support from the Hollywood gay community after that bizarre performance.”

No one can figure out what Ledger could have been thinking or why he behaved so bizarrely onstage.

Which makes it a real shame that the Directors Guild Awards, held the night before, weren’t televised. Then viewers would have seen Ledger’s heartfelt and sincere expression of gratitude to  director Ang Lee, who won the DGA’s top filmmaker award that night.

Paying tribute to Lee, Ledger thanked the director for “introducing us to these delicate characters. It took a delicate man to tell this story and that’s you.” To which, Lee then joked, “I don’t know about you, but that feels a little gay to me.”

Maybe Ledger’s frankly fey SAG performance simply followed Lee’s DGA gay joke lead? Maybe he thought he was being really funny?  Hey, it’s a theory. What's yours?

Photo Credit: Onstage at the SAG awards with Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger's bizarre gay-mocking performance gets no awards or laughs.

(Michael Caulfield/WireImage)

Clooney the prankster and Clarkson the flasher

The Directors Guild of America. Seriously stuffy, right? Wrong.

Just because the DGA Awards isn’t televised, everyone assumes the night's Dullsville, USA. But the Saturday evening event began with a prank, thanks to that practical joker George Clooney, who proved that control freak directors really do loosen up and have fun.

Here's how the night works: The five nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film are introduced throughout the two-hour event (also lauding directors of sitcoms, commercials, soaps, documentaries, etc.) by actors from their films. Each nominated director gets onstage and is given a gold nominee platter, a mini-version of what the night’s big winner will lug home at eve’s end.

Clooney, nominated for "Good Night, and Good Luck," came onstage after his stars Patricia Clarkson and David Strathairn gushingly hailed him as Hollywood's "kindest" director.

“Thanks, ... acting people,” said a poker-faced Clooney. “I was in the bathroom but I just want to say that to win this award is great." The audience exploded with laughter as he continued, "Ang, I’m sorry. I know everyone thought you were the guy, but well, f--k you!" he shouted, holding his nominee plate high in the air.

Emcee Carl Reiner wouldn’t let Clooney and Clarkson leave the stage before she showed off the seriously sexy slit in her skirt and before he explained the practical joke he'd wanted to play on Clooney. “My idea was to put another name on the award,” Reiner fessed. “Then we’d play hide the matzo with your award and have you hunt for it all night. ‘You’re getting warmer, warmer.’ But they said it would it would diminish the evening."

When they finally made it backstage, Clooney kept joking and Clarkson kept on flashing.

Photo: George Clooney and David Strathairn admire Patricia Clarkson's Paris Hilton imitation at the Director's Guild of America Awards at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel.
(Steve Granitz / WireImage)

Let the pre-Globe parties begin!

Judging by this weekend’s schedule of pre-parties and events, Hollywood’s hot list may be pretty fried by the time the actual Golden Globes Awards start Monday night.

The American Film Institute hosts its annual luncheon at the Four Seasons on Friday to honor high-profile films such as “Brokeback Mountain,” “Capote,” “Good Night and Good Luck,” “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “King Kong,” “A History of Violence,” “Munich,” “The Squid and the Whale,” and “Syriana.”

And some of the films' stars and some big directorial guns -- George Clooney, David Cronenberg, Steve Gaghan, Bennett Miller, Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg and Ang Lee -- are expected to be on hand.

Also honored at the AFI lunch will be the cast, crew and creators of TV shows such as “24,” Battlestar Galatica,” “Deadwood,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “House,” “Lost,” “Rescue Me,” “Sleeper Cell,” ”Sometimes in April,” and “Veronica Mars.”

Friday night is the first GQ magazine and American Cinematheque bash will be held at the Regent Beverly Wilshire, with big stars conveniently supplied by Creative Artists Agency.

On Saturday, ICM will host its pre-Globes bash at the Mondrian's Skybar; HBO will host a big pre-Globes blowout at the infamous Chateau Marmont on Sunset, while Lions Gate and Showtime will have a combined supper soiree  at Morton's restaurant in West Hollywood.

On Sunday, the Los Angeles chapter of the British Association of Film and Television Artists (BAFTA/LA, for short)  will hold its annual tea and crumpet crumble at the Park Hyatt.

Expected stars include: Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams, Felicity Huffman, Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Maria Bello, Jeff Daniels, Ziyi Zhang, Terrence Howard, Q'Orianka Kilcher, and “House” star Hugh Laurie, who, although he plays an American doc, is really a Tea Bag (that means a Brit).

And the usually star-studded Mike Medavoy-Vanity Fair soiree will crank up Sunday night at the Argyle Hotel, not at Medavoy's pad as in years past. Rumbles of VF's West Coast Editor/Mistress of Impoliteness Krista Smith exercising too much control over the guest list may mean this is the last year for the joint venture.

Ludacris loves "Brokeback." Honest

Nothing like exercising free speech.

A group of anti-“Brokeback Mountain” protestors carried placards that said “No Homo on the Range” outside the Critics' Choice Awards on Monday. And inside the Santa Monica Civic Center, stars felt free to joke about the gay cowboy film, even before Ang Lee and his film won best film and best director.

Early in the evening, “Crash” won the best acting ensemble award and members of the cast — Jennifer Esposito, Matt Dillon, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Terrence Howard and Brendan Fraser — came backstage to pose for pics and chat with reporters.

After discussing their love for the film, gratitude for their roles, and the importance of sparking discussions on racism, the cast left the podium as a reporter shouted to Bridges and Howard, “Hey, how did you guys like Palm Springs?”

On Saturday, the “Crash” costars attended the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala where Bridges presented Howard with the Rising Star Award. Howard put on a blue suit and tie to attend the Screen Actors Guild brunch at Le Parker Meridien on Sunday.

“Palm Springs was hot," responded Howard. "But it was beautiful.” Then Bridges jumped in, “Yeah, we’re gonna retire there.”

Howard looked at Bridges with mock alarm and said, “No, we’re not, man. This ain’t 'Brokeback Mountain'."

Then they were out the door, leaving front row press, who’d been close enough to hear their last minute joke, chuckling. Split seconds later, a woman introducing herself as a publicist for Ludacris came in and addressed the press, explaining that the last remark — which many reporters in the back of the room hadn’t even heard — wasn’t meant to be derogatory and that Ludacris really loved the film.

“That was weird,” muttered one confused reporter to a French TV journalist. “Especially since Ludacris didn’t even make the “Brokeback” remark. Howard did.”

Sounds like someone needs a politically correct chill pill. Perhaps his flacks have itchy trigger fingers after that recent brouhaha over Bridges wearing a Confederate flag at the Vibe Awards to (as his statement later tried to explain) spark discussion about racism.

Photo: The cast of "Crash" at the Critics' Choice Awards, held at the Santa Monica Civic Center.
(Steve Granitz / WireImage)

"Brokeback" clothing speaks louder than words

At the end of “Brokeback Mountain,” Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) goes to his closet and audiences see that he keeps Jack Twist’s (Jake Gyllenhaal) blood-stained shirt on a hanger, layered beneath one of his own shirts.

“That was the shirt Jack wore on their last day on the mountain,” says “Brokeback” costume designer Marit Allen. “The one he took from Jack’s parent's house.... That shirt symbolizes their entire relationship."

Throughout Ang Lee’s moving love story, based on Annie Proulx’s short story, the characters’ clothing telegraphs their emotions louder than any words.

“Proulx’s story is so pure, and tender that the costumes and wardrobe needed gentle handling,” says Allen. “Hopefully you don’t notice the clothing, but you feel the emotions that the clothes convey. In that sweeping landscape, those two figures and their clothing act as subliminal telegraphs.”

Allen, who worked with Lee on two previous films, including his Civil War movie, “Ride With the Devil,” was keenly aware of the film’s epic feel. But Lee also wanted to capture the reality of the time, the cowboys, ranchers and their economic situations. One invaluable tool for Allen was Richard Avedon’s book, “In the American West,” much of it shot during the late '70s.

But adhering to strict, often unspoken western-wear traditions proved to be a real challenge.

“Everything worn by cowboys and ranchers has a meaning and a cultural reference,” says Allen. “It would be very easy for an outsider unfamiliar with the code to make a mistake. For instance, cowboys wear Wrangler jeans [they’re much tighter] and ranchers wear looser Levi’s. Even the shape and heel height on a cowboy boot tells a tale. So does the height, color, brim and shape of a hat, which also varies from state to state. For instance, Jack’s broader Texas hat is different than the one Ennis wears in Wyoming. And all of this is unspoken but rigorously observed.”

The time period also had a distinct look.

Photo: Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal wear their hearts on their sleeves in "Brokeback Mountain."
(Kimberly French / Focus Features)

Allen's "Match" plays anywhere

F. Scott Fitzgerald was right when he wrote, "The rich are different from you and me."

But according to Woody Allen, the rich are not so different. No matter where you go.

Allen's new film, "Match Point," which received four Golden Globe nods, (director, dramatic film, supporting actress in a drama, screenplay) tells the story of a conniving young lower-class man's attempts to climb above his station into the upper echelon of established, old-moneyed British society. And the quintessential New York director says it wasn't hard to make his "Point" in London because rich Brits are just rich New Yorkers with different accents.

"London and New York are very similar cities," Allen explained at the recent "Point" premiere after-party at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. "There's a very strong class structure in New York as well. In fact, I could have made this film in the Hamptons or in Palm Beach."

But British actress Emily Mortimer, who plays one of the wealthy young women, was impressed with Allen's ability to see the English class system and display it so adeptly. "I think foreign directors have this genius way of observing English mores and manners that is, in some ways, more astute and perceptive than we are about ourselves."

"English society is totally obsessed and neurotic about class," she admitted. "We've lived with it for centuries and we can't really see ourselves really clearly in that arena. Whereas Ang Lee in 'Sense and Sensibility,' Robert Altman in 'Gosford Park,' Shekhar Kapur with 'Elizabeth' and Woody with this film, can look closely and see us much more clearly."

Allen also remained a very non-judgmental observer of the English upper class. "He sees the class system for what it is," says Mortimer. "We assume that if you're a posh person, you're a snob and a baddie. During filming, told me, 'These are not bad people, they're good people, nice people.'"

For that matter, Allen could easily have set the film in L.A. and had some fun with the Hollywood class system. And don't think that there isn't one.

Photo Credit: "Match Point" stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Emily Mortimer could be playing tennis in the Hamptons, Palm Beach, New York or London, says director Woody Allen.
(DreamWorks)

Real romance on "Brokeback Mountain"

The tagline for "Brokeback Mountain" reads, "Love is a force of nature."

And they're not kidding. Seems Mother Nature may have contributed to "Brokeback" co-stars Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger falling in love after shooting their first scene together in Ang Lee's unorthodox western love story.

The actors got short notice that, due to melting snow, they needed to rush and film a scene that takes place in the happy and carefree early days of Ennis and Alma's relationship.

The scene required the two to ride a toboggan down a steep and slippery mountainside in Alberta, Canada. When the sled toppled over, the couple had to tumble and frolic in the powdery white snow. "For the first few takes, they rode down the mountain, fell off the toboggan and got up giggling and laughing," recalls costume designer Marit Allen.

"But after the last take, Michelle didn't get up and she couldn't even move. She'd twisted her knee quite badly and was in a lot of pain so an ambulance was called. But Health was absolutely beside himself. He was so upset. He felt it was his fault because he had rolled off the sled on top of her so when the ambulance arrived to take Michelle to the hospital, he insisted on getting in with her and the door closed behind them. There was a romance from that moment on."

A romance that resulted in the birth of their daughter, Matilda Rose, a little over six weeks ago.

Photo: Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams in Ang Lee's "Brokeback Mountain."
( Focus Features)