Styles & Scenes

Charlize gets laughs at LAFF

As a young girl, Oscar-winner Charlize Theron wanted to be a dancer, not an actor.

But at the Film Independent/Los Angeles Film Festival's "Spirit of Independence Award" dinner, she didn’t dance around why she ditched her ballet slippers for a Hollywood film career.

“I think I loved to dance because it was telling stories without speaking. I wasn’t the best dancer and I would never have made a good ballerina because I was too tall. But if you put me on a stage and told me I was a dying swan, I f-----ing died!”

Theron definitely didn’t die during her conversation with NPR’s Elvis Mitchell at the lavish poolside dinner at the W Hotel in Westwood Wednesday. But she was so funny, she should probably do more comedy.

After a montage of clips from her past films – “North Country,” “The Life and Death of Peter Sellers,”  “Aeon Flux,” “Monster” and “Cider House Rules,” the  chameleon-like actress marveled, “Wow. That was amazing! You tend to forget so much about your films. And boy, I went to the hairdresser a lot.”

Theron, wearing tousled hair, a very sexy slit-sleeved gown and a huge gold necklace, spoke of her admiration for Tom Hanks (“If he ever wants to do a remake of “Splash,” I’m in!”) and why she improvised cigarette-rolling in “Cider House Rules.”  “I was supposed to be this worldly, intimidating woman and rolling my own cigarette conveyed that.”

She also explained why “Monster” writer/director Patty Jensen forced her to do endless takes of a scene in which her character, convicted serial killer/prostitute Aileen Wuornos, shoots a man in the back.

“It was the longest day of shooting and we had one more scene to do. And it was the toughest. I told Patti when we first met, if I was gonna do this, she had to kick my ass. And she did. Instead of letting me go home and do that last scene the next morning, she made me do seven more takes and I’m so grateful for that.”

As well she should be. After all, the film won her an Oscar.

But the comedy continued.....

Photo Credits: Charlize Theron poses doggy-style with the Target pooch at the Spirit of Independence Awards at the W Hotel.
WireImage/Jim DeGuire

Vera Wang curries fashion favor at the Oscars

Now that the Oscar dust has settled, which designer was the most popular on the red carpet?

You could call it a tie. Dior dressed two big names: presenter Charlize Theron and the adorable first lady of the evening, best actress Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon.

Theron’s forest green silk gown with a benign tumor-sized shoulder bow didn’t win over most style seers. But Witherspoon’s honestly vintage 1955 beaded Dior frock was a major thumbs-up, despite criticism that the gown was "too much dress" for the petite actress.

But Vera Wang also dressed two important ladies — both best actress nominees — and both of her creations were wildly hailed. "Brokeback Mountain" nominee Michelle Williams wore a Wang curry-hued '30s-inspired chiffon gown. And "Pride & Prejudice" nominee Keira Knightley looked to-the-manor-born in Wang’s fishtail hem burgundy gown.

And here's a surprise: Versace, usually deemed a bit too racy for the Oscars, came in third, designing for three presenters: Jessica Alba's gold gown, Salma Hayek's blue wrapped gown and Hilary Swank's strapless black number.

Other fashion forces at the 2006 Oscars:

Photo: Michelle Williams won fashion favor at the Oscars for her curry-colored Vera Wang chiffon gown.
(Steve Granitz / WireImage)

Forget the beef. Where's the Chanel?

Reese Witherspoon and Charlize Theron in Dior. Jessica Alba in Versace. Keira Knightley and Michelle Williams in Vera Wang. Amy Adams in Carolina Herrera. Nicole Kidman in Balenciaga. Naomi Watts in Givenchy.

Hey, wait a minute. Where’s the Chanel?

Good question.

International fashion experts are buzzing about the fact that for the first time in almost a decade, there was not a single Chanel creation on the Oscars red carpet.

Was Hollywood slapping Chanel’s liver-spotted hand for having handed “Walk the Line” Witherspoon a very previously worn vintage gown to wear to the Golden Globes back in January? She won only to find out that her dress had been sported by Kirsten Dunst to a Golden Globe Awards party in 2003?

Mon Dieu!

The resulting comparisons between Reese and Kirsten (who looked better?) wearing the same sparkly Chanel frock became an embarrassment for Witherspoon’s camp and a horror for Chanel, who had no real explanation for why the mix-up had happened. Say what you will about how silly this big brouhaha was — but for a designer to dress a Golden Globes winner in a recently worn dress — not to mention one that was worn by another blonde twenty-something actress at the same awards just two years prior — was deemed simply unforgivable.

Even though Witherspoon's publicist issued a public statement "forgiving" the luxury house, many remained skeptical. "We all knew there would be some kind of retribution," whispered a Los Angeles-based fashion rep.

Observers recall a major Chanel statement at the 69th Academy Awards with Celine Dion in a sparkly silver gown. And Chanel haute couture really made headlines with Julianne Moore's stunning black gown at the 72nd Oscars. Recently Kidman was almost a CC regular, wearing Chanel to the 74th and 76th awards.

“Since 2000, Chanel has always been present at the Oscars and the house has always been very select and discerning with their red carpet placements,” says Oscar.com’s longtime fashion expert Tom Julian. “It was quite obvious that the label was not present on Sunday night.”

Why? Everyone has theories.

“Perhaps actresses — or more importantly, their publicists — were still reticent over the Reese Witherspoon debacle. Maye they did not want to generate press for Chanel since they might also come under close scrutiny for wearing a previously worn dress. But whatever the reason, it was obvious that many of the nominees have moved on this year.”

Some style seers say the snub was unintentional. "Designers' presence on the Oscar carpets is always cyclical and the timing of Chanel's disappearance is merely a coincidence," says Mariiyn Heston, who represents Elie Saab, Thomas Wylde, Bebe and others.

Others say the deeper problem is a loss of fashion faith. “It all comes down to trust. If you can’t trust a luxury fashion house to provide your client with a unique gown for an event as big as the Oscars, well, then there is no point in having a relationship with them,” sniffed one top Hollywood personal publicist. Ouch.

What can Chanel and other fashion houses learn from this?

“It’s a very important lesson,” Julian says. “Never take this world too lightly and always have a strategy in place — otherwise negative press and bad fashion buzz will get you. And always remember that the celebrity has to protect their fashion reputation and standing, not yours.”

Some stylists note that it may be smarter for major designers to continue to work selectively and closely with actresses who are tied to their commercial campaigns.

One thing is certain. Chanel must slowly rebuild a relationship with Hollywood. And some insiders predict that major payola — a pay-to-play routine — will be a big factor in Chanel getting any gowns on the 2007 awards carpets.

Photo: Now this is a dress for the Hollywood history books. Reese Witherspoon is elegant, classic and feminine in a 1955 vintage Dior gown. Take that, Chanel!
(Kevork Djansezian / AP)

Has Mischa finally met her match?

It's official.

According to the Daily Mirror, Mischa Barton was indeed wearing Marchesa at the London Orange British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards.

And yes, the stunning pink gown was designed by Harvey Weinstein's girlfriend Georgina Chapman.

And it sure sounds like Chapman's got an Oscar gown or three in the works.

She told the British paper, "We have a lot of work on at the moment but we love what we do."

Hmm.

And don't be too terribly surprised if you soon read that Barton has started to date "Brokeback Mountain" BAFTA best supporting actor winner Jake Gyllenhaal.

According to the Daily Mirror, the solo-flying "O.C." starlet was like, totally stoked to meet the hunky actor at the pre-awards dinner.

And why not, I say! Those two cuties would make the coolest couple next to Gyllenhaal's "Brokeback" costars Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams.

Oops. Hope her current long-haired rocker beau, Cisco Adler doesn't read Styles & Scenes.

Sorry, dude. The truth hurts.

Photo: Grrr. Bet Mischa Barton thinks, "Leave him alone, he's mine!" when she sees Charlize Theron in a royal blue Lanvin gown, getting all giggly with Jake Gyllenhaal in the backstage pressroom at the BAFTA Awards in London.
(Joe Furniss / WireImage)

Rating the hottest Globe bashes

Who cares about the awards show. Let's talk about the post parties!

Film studios and TV networks spend beaucoup bucks on the food, décor, booze and service staff for their official Globe after-parties. But that’s just smoke, black velvet and mirrors. The true test of a party’s hotness is the star power. The after-bash with the hottest gals, coolest dudes, cutest couples and award-clutching stars wins.

Here’s a quick rundown of who-got-who-and-where.

Host: In Style/Warner Bros.

Where: The Oasis, formerly Palm Court. Think a cavernous blue-lit disco space with spiky Giger-esque red glass tumor-lights over an enormous bar, big dance floor and outdoor smoking area.

Difficulty factor: Piece of cake. The best arrival viewing party and a chance for fans to scream at stars, ask for autographs and take photos. Stars DO stop to sign when they come and go. But once inside, good luck getting through the throng of tuxes and gowns to find them. Tip: head for the small outdoor smoking areas. Or try the dance floor, where Bill Macy and his Globe-winner wife Felicity Huffman were rocking out like teenagers at their high school prom.

Star count: George Clooney and Charlize Theron. Need we say more? OK, George was with his publicist, she was with her boyfriend, Stuart Townsend. Other hot couples: Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, "OC" cuties Rachel Bilson and Mischa Barton, hardly desperate Nicollette Sheridan with Michael Bolton (creepy), Seal with Heidi Klum (creepier).

This was definitely THE hot babe bash: Jessica Biel, Jenna Elfman, Natasha Henstridge, Natalie Portman, Mandy Moore, Paris Hilton, Virginia Madsen and Rose McGowan, Melanie Griffiths’ daughter, Dakota Johnson. And Adrien Brody.

Host: Universal/Focus Features/NBC

Where: An elevator ride up to the hotel’s garage rooftop.

Difficulty factor: From a 10 minute to half hour wait to get in. No one wanted nasty fire marshals to shut it down, which they’d do if the body count went over 800. Linger outside the big tent to catch red carpet action: Keira Knightley, Ang Lee and Rachel Weisz clutching their awards and talking about how surprised/nervous/happy they are.

Star count: Second place for celeb sizzle. Major points for “King Kong” director Peter Jackson.

Hot couples: Former Hobbit Dominic Monaghan and his "Lost" costar-squeeze Evangeline Lily, Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams, Zach Braff with Mandy Moore.

Hot dudes: Eric Bana, Cillian Murphy and Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Hugh Laurie, Matt Dillon, Luke Wilson, Patrick Dempsey. Oh, and Adrien Brody.

Memorable moment: Keira Knightley dancing up a storm, spinning around and giggling, while holding a glass of champagne. That’s what we call multitasking.

More parties…

Photo: Hot couple Charlize Theron and Stuart Townsend definitely add some sizzle to the Warner Bros./In Style official Golden Globes after-party.
(Kevin Mazur / WireImage)

The Golden Globes goes to the dogs

On the 63rd annual Golden Globe Awards red carpet, Joan Rivers — TV Guide Channel’s sneering fashion seer — may utter these immortal words: “I just love what you bitches are wearing.”

But she won’t be talking about Keira Knightley, Scarlett Johansson, Charlize Theron or any of those “Desperate Housewives.”

She’ll be talking about Gigi and Junebug, a Chihuahua and Yorkie who will be walking the carpet modeling Jackrocketwear, a couture dog clothing line.

So, yes, it’s true: the 2006 Golden Globes really is going to the dogs.

The tiny pups’ beaded and floral silk gowns, as well the gold ascot, tux (and tail!) worn by their male companion Yoda, were designed and made by their owner Jake Dynnis.

A few years ago, Dynnis began making dog sweaters to keep her small Italian Greyhound — Jack Rocket — warm. He suffered from a congenital kidney defect that required IV transfusions and he shivered even on warm days. Her work caught the eye of Bettina Duncan, owner of Fred Segal in Santa Monica and before you could growl, Dynnis was selling her woof wares there. Now she has an expansive line - jackrocketwear - of matching pet and owner fashions — T’s, thermal knit tops, angora and cashmere sweaters, vests, ponchos, kimonos — as well as a dog toiletries, plush beds and blankets, vintage and novelty items.

A $500 gift certificate for the clothing and doggie spa products is included in the official 2006 Globes presenter gift baskets. This will no doubt increase Dynnis's canine cadre that already reads a CAA talent roster: Bruce Willis, Mariah Carey, Adrien Brody, Natalie Portman, Lindsay Lohan, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Zach Braff, Sharon Osbourne, Foo Fighter Dave Grohl, Jessica Simpson, Paula Abdul, former Go-Go Jane Weidlin, Nic Cage, Tori Spelling, and naturally, Paris Hilton.

Want to pamper your pooch like the stars?

Hollywood plays dress-up for the Globes

This weekend, while most of Hollywood is pre-Globe partyin’, crack teams of stylists are racing all over town, making last minute decisions, decisions, decisions on gowns, shoes and jewelry for their star clients to wear to the increasingly important 63rd annual Golden Globe Awards.

Come Monday, we will enjoy the fashion fruits of their frantic labors when nominees like Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Keira Knightley, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Williams,  Maria Bello, Charlize Theron, Gwyneth Paltrow, Felicity Huffman, Eva Longoria, Mira Sorvino, Teri Hatcher, Halle Berry and Marcia Cross walk the long red carpet outside the Beverly Hilton.

But until then, no one worth their steam machine dares breathe a designer name for fear an actress — even a contracted spokesmodel actress — may change her mind.  But most stylists are happy to talk general trends, color, shape, and mood.

According to several L.A. style seers, the carpet will be awash with silver, black and white. With maybe shot of green, red, some soft pinks.

“Last year, everything was nude and gold. Now it’s silver with black and white,” revealed fashion flack Marilyn Heston, during a pit stop at the Vanity Fair-sponsored MAC cosmetics party at the Chateau Marmont Friday night.

“It’s still three days out (meaning until the Globes show) but those are the colors of the pieces (gowns) that people (stars’ stylists and PR reps) are calling in (asking to have sent over for the star to look at).” Man, this fashion speak takes time to learn.

But Heston should know.

Photo: Eva Longoria and Maria Bello do Black & White at the GQ party for Globe nominees at the Regent Beverly Wilshire on Friday night. But will they wear it to the Golden Globe Awards on Monday?(Jeff Vespa / WireImage)

Charlize Theron orders room service

What went on between Charlize Theron, Shirley MacLaine and Kathy Bates in room 406 last weekend? We may never know.

Just back from a Polynesian island vacation, Theron looked pretty hot in a black strapless Marc Jacobs gown as she accepted the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress at the Palm Springs International Film Festival awards gala Saturday.

After hugging presenter-pal Keanu Reeves, Theron peered out into the audience, asking, “Where’s Shirley? Where’s my Lady of the Night?” Spotting MacLaine, there to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, Theron issued a tempting invite: “Shirley. Later. Room 406. You know where.”

Theron was referencing the up-close-and-personal act she performed on MacLaine at Premiere’s annual Women in Film awards last year. Theron, who was on meds for a neck injury, left the stage to literally kiss MacLaine’s behind. But MacLaine hardly seemed to mind. She bent over willingly for Theron’s good-natured butt buss and afterwards proclaimed, “That was the best I had all year!”

When Bates later presented the PSIFF award to her pal MacLaine, the 71-year-old redhead stepped up to the podium and said, “My darling Kathy. It’s room 406 for all three of us,” adding, “Hey, everyone else in this town is doing it! I don’t want to miss out,” getting the night's biggest laughs and loudest applause from the largely silver-haired audience.

Admiring the award — a provocatively twisted naked human form — MacLaine said, “Wow, this is a strange one. This ball doesn’t come out. Ve-ry creative stuff going on in the desert community."

When MacLaine mused about her long film career and many lives, she explained that she was “never very ambitious or very competitive,” to which Bates literally exploded with a loud guffaw. Bates had earlier revealed, “Shirley tells me that if I lose weight I will never work again. But I think she thinks if I ever get really skinny, I’ll be up for her parts.”

The kidding continued at the after-party at Le Parker Meridien, where the two friends held court, joined by Virginia Madsen, who had presented an award to her “Sideways” producer Michael London (“The Family Stone”) and Sally Kellerman, whose “The Boynton Beach Bereavement Club" screens next week at the fest.

No word when the gals went up to room 406.

Photo Credit: Virginia Madsen, Sally Kellerman, Shirley MacLaine and Kathy Bates have a girls' night at the Palm Springs International Film Festival awards after-party at Le Parker Meridien, hosted by Tiffany and Harper's Bazaar.
(John Shearer / WireImage)

The award for Best Trailer goes to..

Before the 17th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala - honoring Charlize Theron, Felicity Huffman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Shirley MacLaine, David Cronenberg, Terrance Howard, Thomas Newman and Michael London -  got cranking Saturday night, the 1200-strong formally attired audience was inexplicably treated to …  trailers for a slate of upcoming 2006 tent pole studio films.

The evening's emcee Mary Hart, that ever-so effervescent “Entertainment Tonight” hostess, introduced “films that may just be contenders for next year's Oscars!"

Then the trailers started rolling for Johnny Depp’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” Tom Cruise’s “Mission: Impossible III,” and Tom Hanks’ “The Da Vinci Code.”

“Bet that (“Code”) will give Tom Cruise a real run for his money!,” quipped Hart.

Up next, Brad Pitt's “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,” “X-Men 3,” Jennifer Aniston’s new romantic comedy, “The Breakup,” Julia Roberts and Dakota Fanning in “Charlotte’s Web,” Superman Returns,” “Miami Vice” with Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx, Daniel Craig as the new James Bond in “Casino Royale,” “Dreamgirls,” with Beyonce Knowles and finally, Oliver Stone’s untitled project about the World Trade Center bombing, breathlessly billed by Hart as “the first film about 9/11!”

What, no popcorn?

Kristanna Loken's bloody mess

Every actress worth her box office salt has a super heroine alter-ego these days. Charlize Theron has her "Aeon Flux" assassin. Angelina Jolie does Lara Croft in the "Tomb Raider" series. Kate Beckinsale layers on the latex as Selene from “Underworld.” Even Jennifer Garner has found her inner warrior in "Elektra."

Now Kristanna Loken has Rayne.

Loken — last seen in “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” as the totally nude T-X who gave Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger a run for his ball bearings — hit the red carpet at Graumann's Chinese Theatre last night wearing a white chiffon gown for the premiere of “BloodRayne.”

Loken's new fantasy film is based on a video game, always a good sign, about the daughter of the world's most powerful vampire, who seeks revenge on dad for having the bad manners to kill her human mommy. The catch is that Rayne is also a vamp, but she turns her perky nose up at human blood and only feeds on other vampires.

“The film was shot in Romania,” explained the statuesque blonde. “It's a post-Communist country and it's like a teenager, still figuring what it wants to be when it grows up. But the castles are absolutely amazing. And I think shooting there really helped the look and feel of the film.”

Not enough. Some in the audience wondered how on earth the filmmakers snagged Oscar-winning British actor Ben Kingsley for the role of, yes, you guessed correctly, Daddy Vampire. Did he just have a free day? And whose idea was the eyeliner, lipstick and that bad plastic hairpiece?

The film was produced and directed by Uwe Boll and distributed by Romar Entertainment. Boll, taking the stage before the film began, ranted about all the greedy thieves in Hollywood, always a great way to endear yourself to the L.A. film industry. He dragged his stars — including Loken, Michael Madsen, Billy Zane and Udo Kier — onstage but didn't let them speak because, “I hate it when actors talk."

He then made a fevered pitch for Romar as the only truly independent film studio that makes and distributes their own films very cheaply, um, inexpensively.

That much was obvious from the evening's cost-cutting measures such as:

Photo: Kristanna Loken looks like angel at the premiere of hew new film, BloodRayne, based on a video game about vampires.
(Steve Granitz / WireImage)