TINSELTOWN SPYWITNESS AND YOUR DIRECTOR, TOO:.

Byline: Elizabeth Snead and Jennifer Sklar

Director Alfonso Cuaron was feted Tuesday night at the Argyle Hotel by some top Hollywood talent after a packed screening of his film ``Y Tu Mama Tambien'' at the Regent Showcase on La Brea.

The party was thrown by Gwyneth Paltrow, who starred in the Mexican director's ``Great Expectations''; Sydney Pollack, who gave the director his first job; Ben Stiller, a mutual pal of Cuaron's director of photography; and Christina Ricci, who is directing her first film, ``The Speed Queen,'' with Cuaron's Monsoon Entertainment production company.

``They can say what they want about Hollywood, but there is a generous group of people here who are so supportive and really love cinema,'' said Cuaron, whose sexy, bittersweet comedy - about two teen-age boys whose lives are changed by an older woman - opens today.

But apparently not all of them love packed parties. Paltrow, who was reportedly enjoying a post-film dinner next door at Asia de Cuba in the Mondrian, still hadn't turned up at midnight for her own bash, which began at 9:30. But early revelers included a jovial baseball-capped David Schwimmer, Julie Delpy, Saffron Burrows and Catherine McCormack, along with Diego Luna, one of the film's stars.

Salma Hayek, in a tight black skirt and cropped top, her long hair loose and wavy, was with her steady squeeze Edward Norton, who looked eerily like a young Ryan O'Neal in a crew-neck sweater and pouffed blonde hair.

``I have known Salma forever,'' the director explained. ``We used to play soccer together. She is like my sister!''

LOOK THIS WAY, CLASS:

Imagine a luncheon where every table featured an Oscar nominee or four.

That would be the 74th annual Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where around 100 nominees gathered Monday to schmooze and pose for the official 2002 class photo. ``Beautiful Mind's'' Ron Howard and Brian Grazer smiled for the camera on the front row of the multitiered stage with composer Sting and ``Mulholland Drive's'' David Lynch. In the second row was ``Training Day's'' Denzel Washington with co-star Ethan Hawke, who arrived with his wife, a glowingly preggers Uma Thurman.

In the third row, ``Moulin Rouge's'' Nicole Kidman and ``Mind's'' Jennifer Connelly, the latter in copper jeans and a black peasant blouse, formed a delicious Russell Crowe sandwich.

Kidman, who looked like the picture of glowing good health in a vintage gold slip, said she's been sick since wrapping Lars Von Trier's ``Dogville'' (also starring Chloe Sevigny, Jeremy Davies, Lauren Bacall, James Caan and Ben Gazarra).

``You know how it is - you're working so hard and the minute you stop, you get sick,'' Nicole said. By all accounts, it was a tough shoot, and Kidman says she was glad Von Trier did not push her too hard. ``He said, 'You are already broken. I will not break you more.' ''

``Black Hawk Down'' director Ridley Scott looked rugged in a beige sweater and brown corduroy pants. Still, it was ``Sexy Beast'' Ben Kingsley who was the most sought after; both ``Iris' '' Kate Winslet and Connelly wanted to talk with him separately about the same role in one of his upcoming films.

But ``Ali'' star Will Smith made the lunch bunch laugh so hard that people almost spit out their squash soup. ``That's the one,'' Smith shouted, after the fourth photo. ``That take works for me.'' And when all eight shots were taken, Smith, acting familiar with police mug shot procedure, shouted ``OK, now we have to do these,'' and turned sideways for a profile. This year's Oscars producer, Laura Ziskin, also gave useful gifts - 45-second silver egg timers - to all nominees so they could practice timing their acceptance speeches at home. She pleaded with them not to thank everyone they know at the podium on March 24, but to make a gratitude list to be posted on Oscar.com.

But a bearded Russell Crowe, reportedly P.O.'d by the recent editing of his overtime BAFTA acceptance speech, was not in his seat to hear Ziskin's advisory. Hmm. Wonder what he'll do with his egg timer ...

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) NORTON HAYEK: Supporting an old friend.

(2) LUNA: Road led him to premiere.

Jean-Paul Aussenard/Wireimage.com