A LUNCH DATE WITH OSCAR.

Byline: Valerie Kuklenski Staff Writer

The stars were out and, perhaps in a nod to ``Sideways,'' the pinot noir was flowing Monday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel for the annual Oscar nominees' luncheon.

It was a day for production reunions, to talk shop and to celebrate achievement in a noncompetitive setting.

This stuff writes itself

First-time host Chris Rock had little to say about his part of the Feb. 27 telecast except that ``it'll be a show.'' Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg have not attended luncheons in their hosting years. Could it be that Rock was trawling for material?

Where's the better half?

Director Taylor Hackford (``Ray'') won an Oscar in 1978 for his first short film, but this was the first nominees' luncheon he has attended. He said he did not escort his wife, Helen Mirren, when she was up for an award because ``she said it was only for nominees.''

``So today I said, 'Are you going to come?' And she said, 'No, it's only for nominees,' '' he said, laughing. He assured her guests were welcome, ``but she said, 'No, since I didn't bring you, I'm not going to go.' ''

Go ahead - make my lunch

Clint Eastwood is clearly flattered by his three nominations - directing, acting and best picture - for ``Million Dollar Baby,'' but he confessed he just couldn't run the gantlet of the autograph seekers and the reporters in the luncheon press room.

``I came in through the kitchen,'' he said. ``I didn't feel up to it. I didn't think there was anything else I could say. Yes, it's very nice to see the film doing so well. And yes, the nominations are an honor. But I'd done it the other night (at the SAG Awards) so we came in late and went right past.''

No, really, it's them up there

Dina Ruiz, Eastwood's wife, squinted at the stage, regretting having left her glasses at home in Carmel. ``I haven't seen a movie star all week,'' she said. Writer Phil Alden Robinson helped her out by sharing his specs for a moment.

Now make a wish for a funny show

Gil Cates, producing the Oscar show, pointed out that Monday was a special occasion of another sort. At his cue, the assembled serenaded Chris Rock with ``Happy Birthday to You.''

Mr. Indefatigable

Brad Bird, the director of ``The Incredibles'' who achieved his own sort of stardom as the voice of super-uniform creator Edna Mode, said he's looking forward to a little break after promoting the film's DVD and international releases. Then it's back to work at Pixar Animation. ``I have ideas stacked up like cordwood,'' he said.

After dessert was served, a waiter scurried over to Eastwood and showed him a snapshot of them together at another nominees' luncheon, which Ruiz said most likely was 1993, the year he won the directing honor for ``Unforgiven.'' Eastwood signed it for the man.

Last but not least: Alda, Alan 

The nominees gathered in random order on risers for their traditional group shot, then Ric Robertson of the academy called them off one by one to receive their certificates of nomination and souvenir sweat shirt. Virginia Madsen pumped her arm with a big ``yes'' as her name was read, Don Cheadle basked in loud applause, and Annette Bening blew kisses to the audience. ``Your hands get a workout,'' Eastwood noted after lots of clapping.

Alan Alda, celebrating his first Oscar nomination for his supporting role in ``The Aviator,'' was the last onto the risers because it was done in reverse alphabetical order; he had curled up as if asleep.

``And I think we're done,'' Robertson said teasingly before calling Alda up.

Valerie Kuklenski, [phone]

valerie.kuklenski(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

6 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) ``The words have to be somewhat weighty. And, hopefully, I can memorize and think of something that deals with the atmosphere and the tenor ... in a positive way.''

- Director Martin Scorsese, who finds accepting awards ``frightening''

(2 -- color) ``I had 37 messages by the end of the day ... and the last one was, 'Virginia, this is Harrison Ford. I know you're very busy but could you give me a call?' I kicked my legs back and put on a soap opera and I was like, 'Yeah, Harrison.' It was pretty amazing.''

- Virginia Madsen on receiving a phone call from Harrison Ford, with whom she'll star in ``The Element''

(3 -- color) ``This was their life,'' she says. ``They're still there doing it every day. To meet them and their discipline was such an inspiration to me. I still talk to them all the time.''

- Hilary Swank, above, on the ``amazing women'' boxers she meet during the making of ``Million Dollar Baby.''

(4 -- color) ``It was only when I started reading the script - I'm ashamed to say - that I started learning about the genocide.''

- British actress Sophie Okonedo, who stars with Don Cheadle in ``Hotel Rwanda,'' talking about the Rwandan genocide

(5 -- color) ``You see a young cat drive by in his Escalade and you know what you hear? 'I got a woman.' ''

- Jamie Foxx, left, singing

(6 -- color) ``Nah! Never!''

- Oscar show host Chris Rock, below, on whether anything will be off limits

Photos by Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer