Oscar nominees gather for annual luncheon

The casts of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” gathered Monday for the annual Academy Award nominees luncheon along with other Oscar hopefuls coming together for photos, hugs and congratulations.

The luncheon is a warm, feel-good, egalitarian affair where little-known, first-time nominees in categories like best animated short get to rub shoulders and share tables with acting nominees like Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.

Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, whose snubs for best director and best actress, respectively, for “Barbie” caused a major stir, were both present for the nominations they did get and were all smiles before lunch.

Gerwig, nominated for adapted screenplay, was surrounded by selfie-seekers as soon as she entered the ballroom. Robbie beamed nearby as she hugged and chatted with a woman who got one of the best actress spots, Sandra Hüller of “Anatomy of a Fall.”

The centerpiece of the event in Beverly Hills is a class photo of the entire group of nominees. Nearly all of them usually attend, both as part of the Oscars experience and as part of their unspoken campaigns for votes.

Before the luncheon began, nominees including Cillian Murphy, a favorite for best actor for “Oppenheimer,” and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, a favorite for best supporting actress for “The Holdovers,” talked with reporters. Steven Spielberg, nominated for best picture as a producer of “Maestro,” chatted with a small group on the patio.

Sign language issues at Super Bowl irk Matlin

Marlee Matlin is frustrated with CBS for not televising more of the American Sign Language interpreters during Sunday’s pregame Super Bowl performances.

The Oscar-winning actress took to X to write, “I am absolutely SHOCKED at CBS for introducing the deaf performers at today’s Super Bowl and then not showing even one second (or more) of their performance… as has been tradition for the last 30 years. WHY!?”

The pregame performances included Post Malone, who sang “America the Beautiful”; Reba McEntire, who sang the national anthem; and Andra Day, who sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

The ASL performers who accompanied them included Matlin’s “CODA” co-star Daniel Durant, who performed the national anthem, and Anjel Piñero, who performed “America the Beautiful.” Shaheem Sanchez performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

— From wire reports