The Perfect Party? Let Them Eat Pizza

The Scene: Monday’s industry screening of Warner Bros.’ “A Perfect World” at the National Theater in Westwood. A party followed at Spago in West Hollywood. It wasn’t overcrowded, the food was great, everyone stayed late. Talk about a perfect world.

Who Was There: The film’s director-star Clint Eastwood, (leading man Kevin Costner was in Santa Fe, N.M., making “Wyatt Earp”); co-stars Laura Dern and 8-year-old T.J. Lowther (who described Eastwood as “a big, nice guy”), and producer Mark Johnson. Plus a couple hundred guests, including Joe Pesci; Samuel L. Jackson; Anthony Keidis; Jeff Goldblum; Mariel Hemingway; Diane Ladd; studio execs Bob Daly, Terry Semel, Rob Friedman and Bill Gerber, and Wesley Snipes, who said he shaved his head because “I just got tired of it. I wanted some freedom.”

Quoted: Of the dark, intense film, Eastwood said: “I knew the ending. I lived with the film every frame. But to see it straight through with an audience like that, I was kind of going, ‘Boy, what was that all about?’ ”

Chow: A range of hors d’oeuvres from Peking duck sandwiches and pizza to fried oysters and $40-an-ounce Osetra caviar. The eating patterns proved that you can lead a crowd to caviar, but what they want is pizza.

Fashion Statement: “Men in costume just look like men in costume. If they do it right, women are never in costume; they just look exotic,” said literary agent Ronda Gomez, who was asked if she came as Joan of Arc when she arrived in an antique dark green, floor-length crushed velvet gown, Doc Martens and white socks.

Coming Attractions: When one industry analyst was asked what audiences want, he said: “Warmth, emotion, tenderness, caring, giving--it all adds up to mush.”

Observed: Sam Jones, a photographer from Entertainment Weekly, had an assistant following him around with a strobe light because, he said, “otherwise these would be crummy party pictures. Now they’re crummy party pictures with good lighting.”

Overheard: “Champagne and raw seafood,” said one woman. “On my death bed, that’s what I want--and young men.”