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Robert DeNiro added to his curio cabinet full of awards. (Getty Images)
Power players and pretty people descended on the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Monday evening, stepping up into the starting blocks to begin the race toward Oscar gold.
Those in the know in Tinseltown are plugged in to the fact that the Hollywood Awards fall into the perfect storm of timing. Celebrating the culmination of the 13th Annual Hollywood Film Festival, which only lasted for three days this year, and dropping in just as the much-larger AFI Fest begins (that one is October 30 to November 7, in Hollywood and Santa Monica). That timing means lots of heavy Hollywood hitters are in town for the coming AFI fun; so what better time to give out some awards to the obvious contenders?
So there was Ewan McGregor giving Hilary Swank the "Hollywood Actress Award" for her work in "Amelia"; Kate Beckinsale handing Robert De Niro his "Actor" prize for their coming flick "Everybody's Fine"; Steven Spielberg awarding Nora Ephron the "Screenwriter" statue for her wonderful "Julie & Julia" script; Charlize Theron offering up the "Breakthrough Actor" to "The Hurt Locker" star Jeremy Renner; and Sandra Bullock laughingly passing over the "Comedy" trophy to Bradley Cooper for "The Hangover."
And they were just the tip of the iceberg!
Julianne Moore picked up the "Supporting Actress Award" for "A Single Man," Morgan Freeman gave cinematographer Roger Deakins his, and "Twilight: New Moon" director Chris Weitz talked up that much-anticipated flick by awarding his composer Alexandre Desplat a prize.
Diane Kruger and Christoph Waltz appeared to champion "Inglourious Basterds," Zooey Deschanel pumped "(500) Days of Summer," editor Dana Glauberman represented "Up in the Air," Kathryn Bigelow took home the "Director Award' for "The Hurt Locker," and Zachary Quinto accepted the "Hollywood Movie Award," chosen by Internet voters, for "Star Trek."
"I'm shocked, shocked, that the online community has chosen 'Star Trek,'" he joked.
But the Hollywood Awards were no joke for two newbies to the glittery L. A. movie scene.
As Pierce Brosnan handed British actress Carey Mulligan her "Breakthrough Actress" statue for her work in "An Education," she was visibly shaken.
"This is the coolest thing that has ever happened to me," Mulligan gushed, "I just met Steven Spielberg backstage!"
But it was Gabourey "Gibby" Sidibe, whose searing portrayal of an obese teenager facing a horrific life in "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire" is sure to win her many more accolades as Hollywood's awards season picks up steam, who said it best for everyone.
"I didn't know what I was stepping into here, and then I saw Hilary Swank. I'm just a random girl from Harlem," she stammered as she accepted her "New Hollywood Award" from Taraji P. Henson, "and this room is just way too big for me."
