‘Gladiator’ Premiere Set in an Arena Full of Stars

The Event: The Monday evening premiere of the epic action-drama “Gladiator” at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills.

The Crowd: Russell Crowe, who stars as heroic general turned gladiator Maximus; Joaquin Phoenix, who plays the petulant Roman emperor Commodus; Connie Nielsen, Commodus’ wise sister Lucilla; Djimon Hounsou, who plays the gladiator Juba; and Spencer Treat Clark, who plays Commodus’ nephew and heir apparent, Lucius. Other guests included Dennis Hopper, Spike Jonze, Edward Norton with Salma Hayek, Juliette Lewis, Stephen Baldwin, Bill Paxton and Irish actor Colm Meaney. No members of the DreamWorks triumvirate could attend (Jeffrey Katzenberg is out of the country and David Geffen and Steven Spielberg had “schedule conflicts”), so Katzenberg’s wife, Marilyn, played gracious hostess. Also absent was director Ridley Scott, who is in Florence, Italy, prepping for the upcoming production of “Hannibal,” the much-anticipated sequel to “The Silence of the Lambs.”

The Scene: Not surprisingly, the feast and decor at the after-party in the academy lobby was fit for an emperor. Or at least a hungry gladiator. The menu included two kinds of ravioli; chunks of beef on skewers; risotto; sandwiches on foccacia; and an elaborate spread of desserts (the bite-sized chocolate cheesecakes were popular). Also on display in the lobby were several of the costumes used in the film, including Crowe’s gladiator gear and a sumptuous orange silk gown (designed by Janty Yates), worn in the film by Nielsen.

Quote: “I feel like a pizza,” said young Clark in response to adult guests calling out to him, “Little Caesar, little Caesar!”

Buzz: Folks were buzzing about the A-listers who will make guest appearances in performance artist Karen Finley’s otherwise one-woman show, “Shut Up and Love Me,” at the Coast Playhouse. Candice Bergen, Ben Stiller, Patricia Arquette, Meg Ryan and Diane Keaton are among the stars who will pour honey over the very nude--and always controversial--Finley.