77th Annual Academy Awards: On the Red Carpet

It was a slightly more sedate red carpet than past Academy Awards, but it was hardly lacking for glamour. There was no shortage of SoCal sunshine, but an unseasonably cool wind chilled the scene on Hollywood Boulevard and caused many a scantily dressed star to scurry inside the Kodak Theater. Nevertheless, Hollywood.com was on the scene to intercept the Oscar stars on their way into the celebration. Just before the celebs hit the carpet, entertainment news personalities scrambled to get into position to nab whatever star passed by. Entertainment Tonight‘s Mary Hart stopped by to say hello, with a huge 82 carat canary yellow Harry Winston diamond worth a cool $8 million (plus she had an additional $1.7 million on her wrists, ears and fingers). Mary matched her rocks with a complementary emerald Richard Tyler gown. “I’ve been looking for a month,” said Mary. “I had been eyeing another Richard Tyler gown which was in a deep purple, and then this came along and I just loved the green. I haven’t worn green before.” She also shared the contents of her Oscar night handbag: “Altoids because it’s a long night, my reading glasses and for the first time I remembered to bring a flashlight so I can follow the program.” Then Mary had to scramble as duty called–the stars were crossing the velvet ropes. Oscar performer Beyoncé was the first to trod the red carpet, in a very glam vintage Versace with a long train, paired with Larraine Schwartz earrings and her biggest bit of bling: her boyfriend Jay-Z, who held her hand and waved to the paparazzi, clad in a jet black velvet tuxedo. Another superstar couple, nominee Leonardo DiCaprio and his towering, tan, tawny consort Gisele Bundchen (in a white strapless gown with gold embroidery and an empire waist), made a lap on the carpet, waving to the fans in the bleachers. Natalie Portman was the first nominee to swing over to Hollywood.com’s spot, in an fatigue-green gown cut down to there from Lanvin. “I got here two days ago from Israel so they just brought a bunch of dresses and this is the one that I liked best,” she explained, then went on to comment on the unique silvery band in her hair. “This is Fred Leighton. It used to be a bracelet and now it’s a tiara,” she giggled. Otherwise, Natalie took her nomination extremely seriously: “It’s an honor–such an honor! The work itself was such an experience and a prize in itself, but this is like extra, unexpected niceness.” She explained that the hoopla leading into this, the biggest of the big awards nights has “been exciting. It’s been hectic, but it’s been very, very exciting.” And what was on her mind as she was about to enter the gala? “Getting warm. I’m freezing!” she laughed. I couldn’t resist trying an old Dirty Harry line on Clint Eastwood: Do you feel lucky? Well, do you? “I don’t know,” demurred Clint. “I’m just here, that’s all.” His co-star Hilary Swank shimmered in a body-clinging jersey navy blue Guy Laroche gown with a very, very low, very, very bare back as she posed for photos with Clint and his wife Dina, then was greeted by Dustin Hoffman and his wife Lisa, while Hilary’s hubby Chad Lowe chewed gum and chatted on his cell phone during her photo ops. Was Million Dollar Baby the film from Morgan Freeman‘s accomplished career that the actor would most like to win for? “Well, I’d like to win for it,” Morgan laughed. “It’s so special to do such a small movie, and then to be here to represent the movie, and my country–I feel very, very proud,” said newcomer Catalina Sandino Moreno, a vision in a creamy, cleavage-friendly Cavalli gown and silver-and-pearl Autori jewelry. “This is the dress I’ve always wanted–a Cinderella dress,” Catalina enthused. “And I feel like Cinderella today, because three years ago I was in Bogeta, and now I’m here, at the Oscars, so it’s pretty wild.” Ray director Taylor Hackford arrived with his Badgley Mishka-adorned wife Helen Mirren on his arm, and whoever landed the trophies, he sounded like a winner. “I’m extremely proud of this film,” said Taylor. “When you have a career and you go for a long period of time, you want to make better and better films and not rest on your laurels. I think this is one of my best films, and the fact that it’s recognized tonight is particularly sweet.” The director said he felt like he’s had the subject of his biopic sitting on his shoulder throughout the whole experience. “I really believe that Ray Charles knew. All the way through all my frustration, he said ‘Taylor, relax, it’ll happen when it’s ready.’ He never took the rights away from us. He knew we were gonna do it. And right now, wherever he is, he’s probably got a big smile on his face.” [PAGEBREAK] Best Actress nominee Imelda Staunton was age-appropriately fetching in a green gown from British costume designer John Bright adorned with silver jewelry in the shape of snakes. When I asked if the Oscars arrivals experience lived up to her expectations, she admitted the whirlwind had kept her from taking it all in. “I was hoping to stop and look around,” she said. I gave her a moment to take it all in, and after a few beats she said quietly, “It’s pretty amazing.” What we couldn’t do was get Imelda to pick any favorites. “I don’t really think like that,” she said. “I just hope that everyone has a good night. Everyone’s done amazing work this year and that’s what this evening’s about: celebrating that work. That’s enough.” “The two people I really want to win, are Marty Scosese, my man representing New York, and Jamie Foxx,” declared Spike Lee, who arrived dressed in a slick white suit capped with a black fez. And did Spike think Oscar host Chris Rock would piss anyone off? “That’s why he’s here!” Alan Alda was all smiles as he was asked the requisite how-do-you-feel question. “Are you crazy? It feels great!” The Oscar red carpet also again proved to be the world’s most visible fashion runway, with old school Hollywood glamour and long mermaid trains reigning. Renee Zellweger chose a cinch-waisted strapless raspberry Carolina Herrera with ivory tulle trim that offset her newly jet-black hair and her abundance of Cartier jewelry, while Drew Barrymore also went dark with brunette locks and a black Versace; Gwyneth Paltrow was soft and natural in a shiny silk nude Stella McCartney corset dress; newcomer Emmy Rossum looked like a classic Hollywood actress in a crimson red Ralph Lauren a princess ruby-and-diamond Harry Winston necklace and matching drop earrings; and Kirsten Dunst shocked the crowd with her uber-platinum blonde locks that were offset by her black beaded Chanel dress. The usually elegant Laura Linney opted for a funkier look in a frayed beige J. Mendel gown and funky hair; Cate Blanchett looked effortlessly ethereal in a pale yellow Valentino creation; Kate Winslet was incandescent in a periwinkle blue Badgley Mischka with a beaded inset down the bodice and Neil Lane diamonds on the sheer straps; Maggie Gyllenhaal picked one of two Prada gowns, paired with Neil Lane jewels, because “my brother and my boyfriend told me it looked better, so I went with it”; Virginia Madsen dazzled in strapless deep blue Versace Couture that revealed her tattooed upper arm; Penelope Cruz was splendiferous in a gold strapless Oscar de la Renta with an oversized bow at the back hem that made her look like an exotic prom queen; Halle Berry sparkled in an taupe silk chiffon one-shouldered gown with embroidered skirt and a pair of diamond-encrusted Stuart Weitzman shoes worth $1 million, and Oprah Winfrey in Vera Wang and her own earrings (“Of course,” chimed Oprah). The most fashionably relaxed was the pregnant Amy Brenneman (her hubby is Lemony Snicket director Brad Silberling) in Liz Lange Maternity. “I didn’t have so many options this year.” Brenneman continued, “I think I look pretty damn good for six and a half months. And I have great shoes–Jimmy Choo shoes. I had these other shoes and they were NOT comfortable. I said I am 20 lbs. more than I usually am, I gotta have good shoes.” Some of the men funked up the usual tuxedo uniform: Sean Combs wore a black velvety suit (can we presume it’s Sean John?); Johnny Depp opted for a blue tux with black lapels, wingtip shoes with a dangling gold pocket watch chain; Samuel L. Jackson tried a deep black Armani dasjiki; Jamie Foxx also went for a blue suit, this one with pinstripes; Prince went with a velvet black jacket and white silk pants and shirt; while Carlos Santana dressed waaaay down in a black beret and Che Guevara T-shirt. Scarlett Johannson, gorgeous in a black gown by UK designer Rowland Mouret, explained the jewels in her baby-blonde hair. “I wanted to wear a tiara but most of the tiaras I saw were very ‘beauty pageant,’ so Fred Leighton had sewn these 19th Century brooches on a piece of ribbon, and they kind of created my vision so I’m forever indebted.” Scarlett also offered her red carpet routine: “I went to red carpet in London and I was posing and I felt very glamorous. And all of a sudden I was in the middle of an interview and they said ‘You know, you’ve got something in your teeth.’ On camera! I was so mortified, so now ever since that day I do a teeth check.” As for the usual Oscar night partying, she expected to stop by the Vanity Fair bash, but “I have to get up at 5:30 a.m. to work tomorrow, but I think my director is going to be at one of the parties and I’m going to try to get him to give me a later call time.” One guy who had an excuse to party all night was performer Josh Groban. “Today’s my birthday,” revealed Josh. “I couldn’t expect anything better. And the Oscar gift bag isn’t bad, either.” And he had some definite views on the Oscar red carpet experience. “It’s just as red as it looks on TV.”