Styles & Scenes

Star swag at the Indie Spirits

OK, so maybe it wasn’t quite as grand as those $100,000 Oscar winner swag bags.

But some of Film Independent's 2006 Independent Spirit Awards nominees and presenters still made time to visit the On3 gift lounge during Saturday's show for some small-scale swag: personalized Docker khakis, Ugg sandals, Invicta watches, Laura Merkin personalized bags, Dior eye shadow, Palm Treos and coupons for free laser eye surgery.

Hey, a gravy train is a gravy train and after Sunday, the swag-laden 2006 awards express is screeching to a halt. But after reading the recent CNNMoney.com story about hundred-grand gift bags possibly being considered taxable income, I predict stars may become a little more selective about swag next year.

Presenter Sienna Miller, wearing a sweet printed chiffon Thomas Wylde frock, was one of the first to pop into the lounge to snag some Three Dots racer-back tanks (with sheer chiffon straps) in brown, black and white. Spirit hostess Sarah Silverman just took one. In black.

But some of the guys really went hog wild on men's shirts. ”Matt Dillon took eight shirts,” whispered the shirt rep. “And Billy Baldwin took 10, one in every color. Terrence Howard was so cute, he picked out a brown racer-back for his 12-year-old daughter. And Peter Sarsgaard really wanted a polo shirt for himself.”

Yeah, he looks like a polo shirt kinda guy.

Miller also started a new sunglasses trend at the Spirits.

“She’s been wearing white vintage Wayfarers for that retro '80s look," said the Ray-Ban rep. “But today she requested a pair just like the ones Tom Cruise wore in 'Risky Business.' She tried them on and said 'I have to have them!' And have them, she did, immediately slipping them on and wearing them outside in the Santa Monica sunshine.

Turns out Howard — whose future certainly looks bright even if he doesn't win an Oscar — is a big Ray-Ban Aviator fan and he fittingly chose a pair of gold framed Aviators with rose-colored lenses. When pushed, the rep revealed, “When Vin Diesel heard we had new Aviators, he said, 'New? I gotta have them!' He was all over that. And Sarah Silverman took a pair just like Diesel’s. She told me that she really needed a pair because the only ones she had, she’d found in the grass on the walk over here.”

Funny gal Silverman’s next stop was the Phyto hair booth where she picked up a bottle of hair and nail vitamins — Phytophanère. “She said her nails are always breaking,” said the rep.

It's somewhat ironic that Silverman partook in the backstage freebie fest. Ya see, during her hilarious opening monologue at the Spirits, Silverman waxed philosophical about vaginal douches. Not that she needs them, mind you. She'd like to be self-deprecating but she just can't. Not about this.

“I don’t need them because — and pay attention, George Clooney — my vagina smells like a mountain breeze.”

But Silverman admitted that she will never buy douches at a 99 Cents Only store. “I just can’t put anything inside me that costs less than a dollar,” she deadpanned on live TV, cracking up the audience.

Guess she doesn’t mind using products that are completely free.

Photo (top): Sarah Silverman hops on the freebie train with a new Three Dots racer-back tank
(Kevin Parry / WireImage)
Photo (bottom): Sienna Miller practices her Tom Cruise grin in a pair of "Risky Business" Wayfarers(Mychal Watts / WireImage)

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)

Scoping out a Grammy party soundcheck

The ballroom in the newly renovated Beverly Hilton was rockin’ Monday afternoon during the sound check for tonight’s seriously star-studded annual pre-Grammy Clive Davis dinner party.

So far, Clive's stellar list includes "Hustle & Flow" Oscar nominee Terrence Howard, Kevin Spacey, SAG winning "24" star Kiefer Sutherland, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, Missy Elliot, Mary J. Blige, Salma Hayek, Dave Chappelle, John Mayer, Val Kilmer, David Spade, Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, Randy Jackson, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, the Dixie Chicks and Willie Nelson.

Howard is really making the music scene this week. He was also spotted with India.Arie at a MusiCares benefit honoring James Taylor on Monday night.

Starting off Monday's sound check, Heather Hedley filled the ballroom with her big voice, belting out a tune from her new album, “In My Mind.” After her first rehearsal, the vocal powerhouse told the sound techies, “I can’t hear myself over the bass. Can you bring me up a little bit? I think that’s all.”

After listening to this major talent, all we can say to Clive’s guests is bring earplugs. This Tony-winning singer who had the lead role in “Aida” on Broadway sounds fantastic — but she’s incredibly loud. What? I can't hear you!

Photo: India.Arie hangs with Oscar nominee Terrence Howard at the MusicCares benefit honoring James Taylor. What's next for Howard, a Grammy?
(Kevin Mazur / WireImage)

Warming up after Hedley:

It's Oscar time for Terrence Howard

If you thought the Screen Actors Guild Awards was star-jammed on Sunday, you should have snuck behind the scenes to Karen Wood’s Backstage Creations SAG Talent Retreat.

That’s the lavishly decorated celeb-only room where the stars gather before, during and after the show to chat, have a glass of bubbly or just relax from the awards pressure. Of course, another major reason to do the retreat is to get lots of free stuff from merchants displaying star swag in the room.

"Matador" star Pierce Brosnan admired Amouage fragrance from an Irish perfumer. The handmade bottles are so cool they’re the only perfume bottle in the Smithsonian. Marcia Cross and Eva Longoria (hanging on squeeze Tony Parker) loved Shu Uemura cosmetics, also used on the “Desperate Housewives” set. “Entourage” star Jeremy Piven picked up some Phyto hair product for his limping locks. “This is good stuff,” he pronounced. Yeah, baby. Hug it out.

“Crash” star Terrence Howard, looking hot in his D&G duds, felt so at-home that he hung out in the retreat until his category was called. Then he ran out, helped picked up the award for best ensemble cast and returned with “Crash” costar Don Cheadle, who was limping from an unexplained foot injury. Cheadle took a seat on a cream colored sofa, holding the carved wooden cane he’d bought in Kenya.

After picking up a blue Le Vian watch to match his suit, Howard, nominated today for a best actor Oscar for his lead role in "Hustle & Flow," tried to buy the B&W photos by Wall Kandy for his new house. Then he got so excited about a free trip to the Starwood Resort — the St. Regis on Bora Bora — that he announced he was booking his trip the very next day. Better wait until after the Oscars on March 5, Terrence. Angela Bassett drooled over the Bora Bora beach trip too but Ed Harris and his wife Amy Madigan were the most enthusiastic. And impatient. Harris suggested, “Let’s leave tonight!”

Take me with you. Please.

Photo: Terrence Howard synchronizes his free watch and Angela Bassett plans her next vacation at the Backstage Creations SAG Talent Retreat.
(Jesse Grant / 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.

Backstage battles at Critics' Choice Awards

Not all the entertainment is onstage at awards shows. Often, the juicy stuff is behind-the-scenes.

Take Monday's Critics' Choice Awards. There was a teensy turf tiff between the “Access Hollywood” camera crew and Pat O’Brien’s “The Insider” crew. Seems that the PR folks had given “Access,” where O’Brien was once co-anchor, better, well, backstage access than “Insider," and Pat was none too happy about it. But he did snag a few on-camera interviews in the talent-only gift lounge where stars were being handed everything from fragrance to lip gloss, sunglasses to sexy undies.

OK, since you asked, here are some freebie highlights: Stella McCartney shades (Terrence Howard). Dior sunglasses (Eric Bana). Armani eyewear (Dennis Miller). Black lace panties (Ludracris, for his wife). Fake diamond jewelry (Brendan Fraser, for his pregnant wife).

Stars could even get vision advice in the Talent Lounge. A surgeon at a laser eye center booth told show host Miller he could get rid of those big black eyeglasses forever. The diagnosis? “Dennis is far-sighted and has presbyopia”, said Gary Kawesch. That’s a polite way of saying Miller’s aging eyes are losing elasticity and he needs strong reading glasses. Thankfully, both presbyopia and far-sightedness are quite treatable with lasers, unlike Miller’s ultra-conservative political views.

Anyway, back to O’Brien, who seemed in a foul mood from the get-go. Briefly entering the pressroom early in the evening, O’Brien stepped onto the podium to survey the crowd when a reporter shouted, “Hey, Pat! Wanna answer a few questions for us while you’re up there?"

“No, thanks,” the pancake-faced “Insider” host said, oozing sarcasm. “I’ve answered enough questions” — presumably when he discussed his drug and alcohol rehab on Dr. Phillast year.

By show’s end, O’Brien got plenty miffed when his good friend, Julia Roberts refused to do a quick on-camera interview with him. Heading home with hubby Danny Moder after presenting the Freedom Award to George Clooney, she purred, “Not tonight. This is George’s night.”

Ouch.

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)