By Lindsey Bahr, Film Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --The Oscar race may be heating up, but you wouldn't know it to peek in on the nominees luncheon Monday in Los Angeles.
Attendees packed into a ballroom at the Fairmont Century City for the annual luncheon, where nominees get to mingle and celebrate. It was a long awaited homecoming for many after a year away due to the pandemic.
Before the lunch, nominees excitedly greeted one another. Will Smith and Denzel Washington, both best actor nominees this year, smiled and grabbed each other's hands. "CODA" Star Emilia Jones was signing with co-star Daniel Durant, who plays her brother in the movie.
Kristen Stewart arrived with her fiance Dylan Meyer, circling the room in her Chanel outfit, while Netflix exec Ted Sarandos shook hands with Questlove, whose documentary "Summer of Soul" is nominated. Benedict Cumberbatch made his way around holding hands with wife Sophie Hunter.
Nominees continued mingling, ignoring the pleas to be seated.
"Just being back together without a hazmat suit is cause for celebration," said Will Packer, who is producing the show this year. "This is a year like no other, this is THE year."
During lunch most chose to ignore their quinoa salad. Bradley Cooper made sure to say hello to Questlove. Steven Spielberg was deep in conversation Paul Thomas Anderson. Both are nominated for best director.
The luncheon was a first for many including Andrew Garfield, a best actor nominee for "tick, tick…Boom." He said it was a "special moment" to be among fellow nominees like "PTA and Ariana," referring to Anderson and best supporting actress front-runner Ariana DeBose from "West Side Story" who were standing close by.
Kim Morgan, the "Nightmare Alley" screenwriter, was a little overwhelmed by the experience which was also her first time. "I'm a writer," she said.
Osnat Shurer, an animation nominee for "Raya and the Last Dragon," said it was a joy to be at the luncheon. She was excited to tell Jessica Chastain that she loved her performance in "The Eyes of Tammy Faye." What she didn't expect was that Chastain was also a fan and frequent watcher of "Raya," thanks to her children.
Near the end of the festivities, Washington gave big hugs to Garfield and "Belfast" director Kenneth Branagh, while supporting actor nominee Troy Kotsur made his way over to embrace Bradley Cooper, who is a best picture nominee as a producer of "Nightmare Alley."
Top of mind for many were the changes to the broadcast, in which eight categories are going to be presented off air before the show. While many have spoken out against the decision, some are supportive too.
Bill Corso, an Oscar winning hair and makeup artist, is one who was on the committee that made the decision. In 2004, he was given his Oscar in the aisle, another attempt to streamline the broadcast and, he said, it felt like he didn't get his moment.
This change he hopes will let the winners have that moment on stage at the podium, which will be edited into the broadcast in a way that won't be obvious to the viewing audience.
Rom-Com Mainstay Hugh Grant Shifts To The Dark Side and He’s Never Been Happier
After some difficulties connecting to a Zoom, Hugh Grant eventually opts to just phone instead.
"Sorry about that," he apologizes. "Tech hell." Grant is no lover of technology. Smart phones, for example, he calls the "devil's tinderbox."
"I think they're killing us. I hate them," he says. "I go on long holidays from them, three or four days at at time. Marvelous."
Hell, and our proximity to it, is a not unrelated topic to Grant's new film, "Heretic." In it, two young Mormon missionaries (Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher) come knocking on a door they'll soon regret visiting. They're welcomed in by Mr. Reed (Grant), an initially charming man who tests their faith in theological debate, and then, in much worse things.
After decades in romantic comedies, Grant has spent the last few years playing narcissists, weirdos and murders, often to the greatest acclaim of his career. But in "Heretic," a horror thriller from A24, Grant's turn to the dark side reaches a new extreme. The actor who once charmingly stammered in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and who danced to the Pointer Sisters in "Love Actually" is now doing heinous things to young people in a basement.
"It was a challenge," Grant says. "I think human beings need challenges. It makes your beer taste better in the evening if you've climbed a mountain. He was just so wonderfully (expletive)-up."
"Heretic," which opens in theaters Friday, is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, co-writers of "A Quiet Place." In Grant's hands, Mr. Reed is a divinely good baddie — a scholarly creep whose wry monologues pull from a wide range of references, including, fittingly, Radiohead's "Creep."
In an interview, Grant spoke about these and other facets of his character, his journey... Read More