LOS ANGELES — Christopher Nolan stood as calm and nonchalant as ever as the crowd surrounded him and the music pulsated.
His celebrations were limited to a casual presentation of the Best Director Oscar, his first directorial effort and one of seven awards his film hosted that night. Ta.
The “Oppenheimer” crowd wasn't the most enthusiastic attendees at Vanity Fair's post-Oscar party on Sunday night, but they hardly needed to be and their hard-core Ware took care of all the grooming.
Nolan's wife, “Oppenheimer'' producer Emma Thomas, held up a statuette of herself as Best Picture and did most of the talking as the couple were showered with congratulations.
They found a couch near the dance floor with their two children and were immediately greeted by a woman carrying a tray of In-N-Out burgers. The In-N-Out Burger is a signature dish at the Oscars' signature afterparty, a decadent end to awards season. Standard.
Nolan definitely had a relaxed vibe.
Soon Billie Eilish was walking by with two friends and her best original song, “Oscar,” under one arm. This is the only Oscar for the film opposite Oppenheimer since its simultaneous release in July, but it is already the second win for the 22-year-old Eilish.
The Nolan family left early because the party had just started.
The annual event, hosted by Vanity Fair editor Radhika Jones, is held in a space built between Beverly Hills City Hall and Wallis Annenberg City Hall.
This is one of several Oscar parties held around the city after the show. On Sunday night, most honorees, including Mr. Nolan and Mr. Thomas, will begin the celebration at the Governor's Ball, an official afterparty in the same complex as the ceremony, where they will have statuettes engraved on the spot. be able to.
Vanity Fair's dress code might be called “loose black tie.” Many still wear ceremonial tuxedos and gowns. Some people are dressed more casually, but in a flashy way.
Usher wore a sequined white jacket over his bare chest. Barry Keoghan, wearing a similarly sequined jacket over a mesh tank top, didn't look all that different from his “Saltburn” character when he was taken in by the aristocrats.
The party's guest list always extends far beyond Hollywood to include music, fashion, literature, and sports.
Serena Williams and LeBron James, who has also worked in production in recent years, were seen hanging out on the party's patio.
At 6 feet 9 inches tall, James was a star among stars, wearing a white tuxedo jacket and sunglasses, towering over the crowd with a glass of champagne in hand. He instantly fell in love with photography.
Anya Taylor-Joy greeted Matteo Bocelli at the crowded entrance to the final red carpet of the awards season and sang with her father, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, in the “In Memoriam” segment.
“Were you nervous to sing? You did a great job,” she said.
“Grazie,” he answered.
In addition to the ubiquitous In-N-Out, servers were stocked with fried cheese-stuffed pumpkin blossoms and Quattro Formaggio pizza. Ke Hui Quan, who won the Best Supporting Actor award for “Everything Everywhere All at Once'' last year and was one of the people who presented the award to Robert Downey Jr. for “Oppenheimer'' this year, was on the carpet. After walking on it, I grabbed a piece of pie and wrapped my scarf around it. It continued as if he hadn't eaten anything all day.
This year, the dance floor was closer to the center of the action than in previous years, giving the venue more of a club atmosphere, but also making it harder to hear people and eavesdrop on conversations. The music was retro, with plenty of Prince and Michael Jackson.
As Earth, Wind & Fire's “September” blared, Jon Hamm stood at a nearby bar, sipping cocktails, half-dancing, hugging Brett Goldstein from “Ted Lasso” and singing “Schitt's Creek.” ' star Catherine O'Hara. Hamm then spoke and laughed for a long time with presenter John Mulaney during the show. The two kissed each other on the cheek before parting.
Nearby, Jeffrey Wright, nominated for Best Actor for his role in “American Fiction,” was chatting passionately with director John Waters.
Nearby, “Anyone But You'' and “Euphoria'' star Sidney Sweeney stood in a white gown with her fiancé Jonathan Davino by her side.
Outside, Daniel Scheinert, co-winner of last year's Best Director award for “Everything Everywhere All at Once,'' was joined by “Sound of Metal'' actor Riz Ahmed and “Sound of Metal'' actor Riz Ahmed. He spoke with Steven Yeun, actor of “Beef,” and Greta Lee, star of “Past Lives,” which was nominated for Best Picture. . ”
At least one of the “Oppenheimer” winners got a little wild. As midnight approached, Ludwig Göransson, who wrote the film's music and won his second musical Oscar, tore up the dance floor, swaying and moonwalking with a statuette in hand.
He wasn't the only Oscar on the floor. Other lesser-known faces also dance with him, celebrating that upon victory, you are instantly invited to an absurd star-studded party where the little statue is the real celebrity, regardless of category or fame. I did.