TINSELTOWN SPYWITNESS.

Byline: Elizabeth Snead and Jennifer Sklar

BUDDY POLITICS: The Cannes Film Festival is not all party and premieres. It is also politics.

The most powerful movie buzz over the weekend was about Michael Moore's documentary, ``Bowling for Columbine,'' a film about America's obsession with firearms, which left countless critics emotionally stunned and speechless (which is some feat).

At his press conference, Moore ranted over the Orwellian climate of fear currently being perpetrated by the U.S. military establishment to control the American people and gain a mandate to wage war over oil, wondering how much the administration knew about the Sept. 11 attacks in advance and what the real ties are between the Bush White House and the bin Laden family.

Even that and the torrential rains could not dampen the town's party spirit.

Longtime ladies man Jack Nicholson turned up at the after-afterparty for ``Gangs of New York'' at a private chateau, and he was wise enough to hang with Lenny Kravitz and ``Gangs'' star Leonardo DiCaprio, who were surrounded by 10 babe-a-licious Brazilian models (but not Gisele Bundchen, DiCaprio's former squeeze).

Nicholson, sporting a full gray beard and sucking on cigars, has also been seen around town with his pal Sean Penn and director Roman Polanski, here for the premiere of his latest film, ``The Pianist.''

Also seen around town were Christina Ricci at the Hollywood Dreams party and Michael Keaton wandering around with a press pass. No, he's not joined the scribe set. He just plays a journalist in HBO's ``Live in Baghdad,'' now shooting on location in Morocco.

GALLOP POLL: An entire block off of Sunset Boulevard became a western-style playland Sunday afternoon, where a stampede of kids and parents partied after the premiere of the animated feature ``Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron'' at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood.

With delectables like pizza, fried chicken, grilled hot dogs and kettle corn tempting tykes and adults alike, you would think there would be no room for trips to the Baskin-Robbins and s'mores tables, but many proved me wrong. Dakota Fanning, who played Sean Penn's daughter in ``I Am Sam,'' checked out the massive sweets spread before deciding against ice cream. ``It's too cold for that,'' she explained.

Cindy Crawford steered clear of the greasy grub, opting instead to stand in line with son Presley for a turn on the inflated bungee run. Although the petting zoo (complete with a large eagle and baby chicks) and the coloring fort grabbed most kids' attention, the older crowd cheered on Bryan Adams, who sang a song he sings on the soundtrack, along with some of his classics.

Harry Hamlin escorted daughter Delilah to the ``Spirit'' bracelet-making booth, where he realized his child's enthusiasm for the film may get him into trouble. ``She absolutely loved it,'' he said. ``She has been playing horsey for the past hour, and I am sure within a month I will be owning a horse. She's not going to want a pony. She's going want to want a stallion, like Spirit.'' Better start building that stable now.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) NICHOLSON: 'Gangs' all here.

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

(2) HAMLIN, DELILAH: Champing at the bit.

Jeff Kravitz