My lunch with DiCaprio, Wahlberg and Jennifer Hudson...

One really cool thing about the Oscar nominees luncheon is that there is no pecking order when it comes to seating. Nominees are spread out throughout the Beverly Hilton Hotel ballroom which means there is no single table dedicated to "The Departed" or "Babel" etc.
So this is why I found myself sitting right NEXT to Jennifer Hudson at lunch. You know, "Can you pass the butter?" close. She was very nice and remembered our little elevator ride at the SAG awards a few weeks ago when we chatted about the "Dreamgirls" soundtrack.
So that's pretty cool I figure, I'm good. Then a nice couple sits down to the left of me and it is Curtis Hanson and his wife. Curtis is not only an incredible director-screenwriter ("L.A. Confidential" "Wonder Boys") but he is also a member of the Academy's Board of Governors. I tell him how "Wonder Boys" is one of my very favorite films. He could not have been more friendly, full of questions and even stopping Sherry Lansing to introduce her to me as she makes her way to her table. Lansing is glowing and is to receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Oscars.
Several other nominees are at out table including writer Todd Field who wrote "Little Children" and was nominated previously for the terrific "In the Bedroom," and film editing nominee Christopher Rouse ("United 93").
So, our table in pretty top-notch.
Then the table right next to us fills up and i realize I am sitting back-to-back with Leonardo DiCaprio. I've seen both "Blood Diamond" and "The Departed" in recent weeks and tell him how good he was in both. I also tell him how moved everyone was by his tribute to Martin Scorsese a few nights earlier at the Directors Guild of America Awards. Mark Wahlberg is also at that table and I congratulate him on his supporting actor nomination.
Even though I have covered the industry for going on eight years, I realize that this is a really singular experience for me and I try and take it all in. But I'm also hungry so I'm not so overcome with awe that I don't dig into an appetizer platter that includes vegetable sushi roll with wasabi caviar, peking duck in mandarin pancake, smoked salmon canape with dill mouse, and (my favorite): Kyoto Beef Roll with cumcumber and jicama. Hey, I don't know what half that stuff is but it was all printed in the program so I am able to inform you in detail. It was TASTY!
Jennifer (as in Hudson) is with her acting coach but spending a lot of time on her Blackberry. I later find out that it's her sister she's communicating with and they are dealing with their mother who is fretting over what to wear at the Oscars.
As we dig into our artichoke salad, I start my head around and see that sitting at the table next to DiCaprio's but up on another level of the ballroom, is Helen Mirren, looking as lovely as ever. Eddie Murphy is at another nearby table which also includes director James L. Brooks. Scorsese is nearby and Leonardo goes over to give him a hug hello.
Before we are served the main course, all of the nominees are called to the stage for a big group picture. That is fun to watch and it is even more fun when they are then called, one at a time, from the bleachers is reverse alphabetical order to receive their nomination certificate as well as a gift bag that includes an official Oscar sweatshirt as well as a T-shirt, each with a line from one of the best picture winners of years past.
The process takes a long time but I don't mind because Wahlberg got his early and I find that we are standing next to each other at our tables watching the rest of the nominees and clapping wildly. Curtis Hanson had gone to stand with James L. Brooks and Jennifer was still up there so I felt a little abandoned at my table.
When Jennifer gets back to our table, I ask her what line her T-shirt has. She takes it out of the bag and we look: it's Diane Keaton's "La di da" line from "Annie Hall."
At this point, DiCaprio and Wahlberg are about to skip out before the main meal and Jennifer shyly taps Leo on the shoulder to ask if she can get a photo taken with he and Mark. Leo, looking pleasantly surprised, said, "I'd be honored."
I was honored to share this lunch with all of them.