Pleasing the Critics

The Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. awards Tuesday night were a more emotional experience than one might expect. About 200 critics and publicists gathered at the Casa del Mar in Santa Monica for the ceremony. Right away, film association member Henry Sheehan took a swipe at the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. for eating during screenings. He told the crowd: “I don’t know how many movies I’ve been to where I thought ‘Phillippe, do you have any mints?’ was part of the dialogue!”

Kate Winslet, who won best supporting actress for “Iris,” nearly wept while thanking her agents. Then, Jeffrey Katzenberg, whose film “Shrek” won best animation, noted the surrealism in being given awards by critics. “Who’s more freaked out now? You or me?” he joked. Soon after, another honoree, legendary Disney animator Joe Grant, told the crowd: “In defiance of Mr. Katzenberg, I hope everyone goes to see ‘Monsters, Inc.’”

Sissy Spacek, who won best actress for “In the Bedroom,” told the story of how she realized she wanted to be an actress at age 6 while watching the Cokettes, a group of baton-twirlers in Coke, Texas.

Then, Denzel Washington surprised the crowd by suggesting straight-faced that his award for best actor in “Training Day” should have been presented before Spacek’s. “Is that sexist or something?” he asked. After Washington left the stage, the association’s president, Jean Oppenheimer, took the podium and sniped back: “That was a real electric performance.”

Director David Lynch’s avant-garde antics earned huge laughs from the crowd. He was awarded best director for “Mulholland Drive.”

“Thank you for creating so much buzz for my movie,” Lynch said. “This is the sound of the buzz you created.” With that, Lynch held a small tape recorder up to the microphone, filling the room with a cacophony of noise. He shut off the recorder and said, “I’m glad none of us are normal ... I’m fighting a strong desire to talk about nuclear fission.”

The evening ended on a somber note when director Todd Field appeared to choke back emotion while accepting the best picture award for “In the Bedroom.” Producer Graham Leader stepped in and succinctly summarized the powerful pull the film has had on post-Sept. 11 audiences.

“It is simply about the value of human life,” he said. “I think that is why it has struck a nerve with people today.”

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Bening as Mentor

Surrounded by men in suits, Annette Bening stood underneath the 20-foot Roy Lichtenstein painting depicting climbers in Creative Artists Agency’s lobby Tuesday night on Wilshire Boulevard.

Her agent, Kevin Huvane, sauntered over for a peck on the cheek and a hug. But Bening hadn’t come to schmooze with her rep. Despite the setting, this cocktail party was all about charity.

The Fulfillment Fund, which provides mentors and scholarships for disadvantaged students, was celebrating its 25th year, and Bening had just been introduced as its spokeswoman.

The fund appealed to her, she said, because it offers emotional support and encouragement to those in need. “The Fulfillment Fund is relationships at work,” Bening said. “Someone who’s there for you on the tough days.”

Growing up, her mentors included her parents and women for whom she baby-sat. “I had women friends that I looked up to,” she said, “actresses that I wanted to be like.”

A couple of students in the mentoring program huddled in the corner, looking shyly at the bustle surrounding Bening. Nearby, student Lisandro Gonzales and his mentor, Nelson Handel, chatted with friends.

Gonzales, who attends Cal State Monterey, met Handel five years ago.

“I had never been to the museum, and he would take me,” Lisandro said, adding that Handel helped with homework and applications for the business administration degree he now pursues. Today, said Gonzales, “he’s one of my closest friends.”

Handel said the idea of becoming a mentor scared him at first. “I didn’t know if I was man enough,” he joked. But, the freelance writer faced his fears and began volunteering. “Imagination is really powerful,” Handel said.

These students “just need a vision of what’s possible.”

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Sex Does Sell

It was quite a circus at the Barnes & Noble on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica on Tuesday night, as Kim Cattrall, of “Sex and the City,” signed copies of her book which (not surprisingly) tackles the subject of sex.

Several hundred people stood in a line, snaking around the book aisles, with some fans waiting several hours. Although the bookstore had discouraged fans from bringing memorabilia to sign, one man had sneaked in a mannequin to be autographed. (Cattrall starred in the 1987 Pygmalion comedy “Mannequin.”) Other fans had brought ‘Star Trek’ posters for her to sign. (Yes, Cattrall did star as Lt. Valeris in “Star Trek VI.”)

Mostly, though, Cattrall and her husband, Mark Levinson, signed their new book: “Satisfaction: The Art of the Female Orgasm” (Warner Books).

Jan Lindstrom, a spokeswoman for the bookstore, said the book was sold out even before the signing.

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Sightings

Angie Dickinson, Rebecca De Mornay, and Olympic skaters Tai Babilonia, Randy Gardner and Scott Hamilton, on Sunday watching a figure-skating exhibition at the Staples Center that featured Kristi Yamaguchi and Tara Lipinski.

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City of Angles runs Tuesday-Friday. Email:angles@latimes .com.