On with the Show: At the Critics' Choice Awards

Santa Monica - What happens when America's movie critics throw an awards party? Everyone comes, of course!

That's what happened Monday night in Santa Monica at the 13th Annual Critics' Choice Awards, as the Broadcast Film Critics Association honored the best films and performances of 2007. Unlike the Golden Globes, the Critics' Choice Awards show has never been written by members of the currently striking Writers Guild, which meant that actors, directors, and other Hollywood types did not have to cross a picket line to attend the gala event held at the Santa Monica Civic Center.

Which meant that Brad Pitt and best actress nominee Angelina Jolie sat front and center in the packed ballroom, where champagne flowed freely and light bites were served as the glittering night unfolded.

Best actor nominee George Clooney waxed eloquently on the strike as he awarded Don Cheadle the organization's first annual Joel Siegel Humanitarian Award in memory of the late critic, saying "When the strike happens, it's not just writers [who suffer]. Our hope is that all the players will lock themselves in a room and not come out until they finish. We want this to be done. That's the most important thing."

And while best screenplay scribe Diablo Cody (who won for "Juno") didn't make the show, just about everyone who is anyone did. In addition to Pitt, Jolie, and Clooney, the place was just teeming with gorgeously dressed stars, from presenter Katie Holmes in a cream off-the-shoulder, asymmetrical Lanvin sheath to best ensemble Winner (for "Hairspray") Queen Latifah, resplendent in a chic winter white pantsuit.

Daniel Day-Lewis sported shoulder length locks and stammered as he accepted his best actor trophy that "I wish that George Clooney was my speechwriter – he always knows how to say the right thing," while Nikki Blonsky shrieked with delight as she accepted her best young actress award.

A-listers were everywhere, from the "Into the Wild" group, that included Sean Penn, Eddie Vedder, Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, Hal Holbrook, and Catherine Keener, to presenters including Kyra Sedgwick, Snoop Dogg, Leslie Mann, and Marisa Tomei, as well as the stars of the best picture winner, "No Country for Old Men," including Javier Bardem, who also won for best supporting actor.

Later, at the rollicking after party held in a large tent next door to the ballroom, best actor nominee Emile Hirsch gave "Hairspray" best ensemble winner Brittany Snow all his attention, and presenter Eddie Izzard chatted with "There Will Be Blood" star Paul Dano. Izzard cracked up the house earlier with his goofily disjointed speech, a riff on the need for writers, and commented later that "we need them to make a deal and get back to work."

The Critics' Choice Awards also honored Julie Christie for best actress in "Away From Her" and Amy Ryan as best supporting actress in "Gone Baby Gone," but neither actress made the party, which could just be one of the only awards shows that actually happens this season. The Golden Globes have been canceled due to the WGA threat to picket the show, and the actors' unwillingness to cross those picket lines to attend.