LA.COMFIDENTIAL > CELEBS.

Tom Hanks is becoming even sweeter with age.

"Mom, I love you so much," the trim 51-year-old actor declared as he endearingly introduced his mother, Janet, brother Jim and his in-laws to the audience at the premiere of "Charlie Wilson's War" on Monday night.

Hanks also received some lovable reviews when he joined wife Rita Wilson at the family table during the crowded after party in the atrium of Universal CityWalk cinemas. "It's easy to act with him because he makes me feel so confident," said co-star Julia Roberts.

The real Charlie Wilson, the carousing former East Texas congressman who helped influence Russia's defeat in Afghanistan, claimed Hanks' portrayal was "absolutely terrific, and not just the acting but the interest he personally had in the history and getting it right."

"I plead guilty to all of my misbehavior in office and I'm afraid the hot tub party/drug scene is remarkably accurate," Wilson said as director Mike Nichols chatted nearby with wife Diane Sawyer. "Tom's rendering also makes it clear that 20 years ago it was possible to bring down a foreign enemy without spilling a drop of American blood."

Bet that makes Mom proud.

>JOEL STRATTE-McCLURE/SPYWITNESS

A tear-jerker for everyone

Keira Knightley, James McAvoy and Vanessa Redgrave were still remarkably emotional about "Atonement" when they got together for a holiday cocktail party at Falcon on Sunset after the film opened.

"It surprises me, but I often have to stop and collect myself when I talk about my role," said McAvoy, who'd just gotten a congratulatory call from Forest Whitaker. "It's fiction but I'm still really angry and moved by what my character experiences."

He's not the only one who gets teary-eyed.

"I cry every time I see the film because it reminds me about what happens to young people," said Redgrave, wearing tan Ugg boots and smoking a cigarette on the outdoor terrace. "I'm proud to have done my little bit."

Knightley, drinking a ginger ale from the bottle, contends that a combination of Ian McEwan's novel, Joe Wright's direction and a bonded cast produced the film generating substantial awards buzz.

"We all completely fell in love with our characters and clicked with each other," Knightley concluded. "Just look at us now, we've become great supportive friends like actors in an old-school British repertory company."

Wonder what's next on the program?

>J.S.M.

Stars shine around female screenwriters

Jean Smart, Kathy Griffin, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Sharon Lawrence and Sally Kellerman were among the women who showed up for lunch Monday at Chateau Marmont to celebrate the winners of the More Magazine-Women in Film screenwriting contest. Griffin was flanked by two assistants causing Smart to crack: "I don't even have ONE assistant."

Smart told the group she was happy to support a contest for female screenwriters and directors over the age of 40 because the many young male screenwriters in Hollywood can be a bit clueless about women.

Smart said she once read a script that described a female character as "35 but still attractive. I asked my agent, 'Was this written by a guy and is he less than 25 years old?"'

Tripplehorn was among the judges for the contest, along with Sela Ward, Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Allison Janney and Andie MacDowell.

"The industry could use more stories from a woman's point of view," Tripplehorn said. "I think this is giving opportunities to women to break in when it probably would have been a little more difficult just because the ranks kind of close."

The feature film contest was won by Laurie Donahue, a 45-year-old law professor from Ohio who wrote "Whiplash," the tale of a young woman's cross-country journey to bring her brother's killer to justice.

"This should be called the 'Last Chance in Hell Award.'" Donahue said.

Smart piped up: "If you don't want to curse, call it the 'Snowball in July Award."'

>GREG HERNANDEZ/LA.COM

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