A quick look back at the Oscar Nominee Luncheon
Friday, February 9, 2018 at 12:25AM by Nathaniel R
photo via Rebecca Keegan
The Oscar Nominee Luncheon -- which we must belatedly now obsess over -- is one of the greatest Oscar traditions, for a variety of reasons which have nothing to do with lunching. One of the secrets to its wonderfulness is possibly that it's not telecast so it still maintains some kind of insider cachet. Nevertheless the media are invited so it's not "private" per se. And even if it were, in our social media age the stars serve as their own kind of media outlet, too, with their selfie madness...
"celebrities... they're just like us!"
So it's the best kind of honorary event, intimate and epic simultaneously.
These are our three favorite photos from the event. Spielberg's selfie prompt, this Laura Dern sandwich below, and Meryl with Daniela Vega (two Fantastic Women).
(Best twitter line about this photo comes from Calvin Stowell: "This explains the disturbance in the gay force I felt yesterday. I am still recovering.")
It's also worth noting that though Agnes Varda didn't attend she was there in spirit... and in cut out form as her co-director "Jr" proved with abundantly wonderful photo ops. Seeing these was the first time I've felt hopeful that she might actually win the documentary Oscar. How could you be in the same room with her -- even a 2D version of her -- and not feel delight?
THREE CUTOUTS INSIDE BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA (2018) pic.twitter.com/qbifogMPFC
Which nominee this year would you mingle right towards at a luncheon?
Reader Comments (23)
Frances "no show" McDormand must be pretty confident tt she's gonna win no matter wat tt she dun even bother to show up n show support to her fellow nominees! Tsk tsk
When even Meryl who has the least chance o winning shows up to lend support, wats her excuse?
Previous winners should never have to schmooze for votes.
Which nominee this year would you mingle right towards at a luncheon? : Octavia Spencer just because I think she'll be just a delight and totally relaxed (it's her third one of these and she's already a winner after all)
I would be wetting myself if I saw Meryl Streep in person. She is arguably the greatest actress ever.
Up until a few years ago, at this luch they used to taka photos of all the nominees in a given category. All those that were present. Obviously. It was nice to see all the Best Acrtresses, or Directors. I miss that.
Where can I see the photographs per category?
This would've been my chance to find Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Robert Lopez, and Kristen Lopez; line them up together and ask them how in the world voters are supposed to pick between them.
I would totally hang out with Michael Stuhlbarg who's one of the greatest actor working right now and congr...oh! no wait they snub him yet AGAIN!!! Shame on the academy (yet again...)
Woody Harrelson, I'm finally starting to love this guy.
Greta Gerwig, of course.
Laurie Metcalf - I've loved her since I was in...grade school? Junior high? And I was gush so hard that we'd both be embarrassed for me but I wouldn't care because she deserves to be gushed over.
Up until a few years ago, at this luch they used to taka photos of all the nominees in a given category. All those that were present. Obviously. It was nice to see all the Best Acrtresses, or Directors. I miss that.
Really? I thought it was ONLY if all nominees were present.
Anyways, Agnes Varda for the win.
Luckily, I would not have had to choose among Meryl, Greta, and Agnes's cardboard cutout, because they were all lined up for the class picture! And JR seems pretty cool, too.
The costume design nominees.
Frances "no show" McDormand obviously doesn't give a fuck if she wins or loses. Confidence has nothing to do with it.
Agnes Varda.
It doesn't look like Sufjan Stevens was there. Hope he performs at the show.
I don't think they did the smaller group photos because at least one person from each acting category wasn't there.. McDormand, Manville, Denzel, Plummer, and I think someone else.
“I don't think they did the smaller group photos because at least one person from each acting category wasn't there.. McDormand, Manville, Denzel, Plummer, and I think someone else.”
Harrelson and Day Lewis were also absent.
I feel like Allison Janney would be fun to hang out with at a party & Margot Robbie! Although they might not want to party with me if they knew I want Laurie Metcalf & Sally Hawkins or Saoirse Ronan to win.
I would beeline to Laurie Metcalf and ask her about the episode of Roseanne where she gets a quart of milk poured over her head and if it was real milk and if it was cold and if they have to film it more than once and if she was upset about it. And she probably wouldn't even remember it.
Why is Laura Dern there.
Does Meryl Streep not have a stylist? I know she is a "serious actress" and everything - however she manages to always wear something either hideous, slightly hideous or feh....all the time to these awards show. this thing she has on at this year's Oscar lunch just looks awful. She should just do the Katharine Hepburn thing and wear black pants and a black turtle neck all the time. Come on!
Jimmy - did you get your question answered? She's on the board of governors, so she was on hand in that capacity.