Awards season springs into action
Palm Springs, Calif. — This is awards season in an oasis, where Oscar hopefuls collect their Dale Chihuly glass statues against a mountain backdrop and rows of palm trees. USA TODAY’s
Andrea Mandell goes behind the scenes at Saturday’s Palm Springs International Film Festival gala and Sunday’s ‘Variety’ brunch.
REESE WITHERSPOON: Witherspoon (with co-star Laura Dern), recipient of the Chairman’s Award for Wild, got a Christmas bonus: Wild has now raked in more than $23 million at the box office. “When we actually crossed the number that it cost (to make), I was like ‘Oh, my gosh, I’m so happy!’ As a producer, it’s a great feeling,” she says.
CHRIS ROCK: There are routine Hollywood brunches — and then there are the ones Rock attends. At Sunday morning’s
Variety brunch, the comedian/director acknowledged to laughter, “We’re trolling for Oscar votes! Come on — just to be honest. I’m going to blatantly appeal to the voters: February 22nd is my mother’s 70th birthday. If I’m nominated, I will take her to the Oscars. If not, I will take her to Fatburger.”
EDDIE REDMAYNE: Redmayne showed off his new wedding ring on the red carpet with wife Hannah Bagshawe, whom he married Dec. 15. The pair said they wore Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen at their wedding. How royal! “It’s very royal,” Bagshawe joked. “A little bit smaller congregation.” As Redmayne accepted his Desert Palm Achievement Award for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything, he thanked “my life partner and, as of two weeks ago, my wife. It’s kind of weird saying that — but it’s a good weird.” BRAD PITT AND DAVID OYELOWO: Pitt made his first official push for
Selma’s Oyelowo (his production company, Plan B, produced). “How the hell do you pronounce his name? ... I’ve been there. I’m here to help,” Pitt joked onstage before helpfully leading a sing-along of Oyelowo’s name to the tune of Coldplay’s Yellow. (It’s Oh-yellow-oh, by the way.) Backstage, Oyelowo was cracking up, and the two hugged. “He’s become a friend,” said Oyelowo, adding that they bond over being dads. “We have these epic playdates where all 10 of our combined children sort of tear their house apart.” ROSAMUND PIKE: Guess who had the last laugh? That would be Pike. On stage, the Gone
Girl actress revealed that she was told years ago that “David Fincher doesn’t cast Bond girls.” (You may recall Pike starred in 2002’s Die
Another Day.) So much for that theory.