Oscar nominees relax at annual luncheon before the big event

Julianne Moore arrives at the 87th Academy Awards nominees luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Monday, Feb. 2, 2015, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Julianne Moore arrives at the 87th Academy Awards nominees luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Monday, Feb. 2, 2015, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

By Associated Press February 2, 2015 1 min read

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) – For best actress contender Julianne Moore, the Oscar nominee luncheon feels more like a massive press junket where everyone is in the same movie than an actual competition.

The annual event, held Monday at the Beverly Hilton, brings together over 150 nominees to celebrate the honor before the golden statuettes are actually handed out at the 87th Academy Awards ceremony on Feb. 22.

Also in attendance were Michael Keaton, Reese Witherspoon, Eddie Redmayne, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Carell and many others.

While much of the backstage chatter remained light and joyful, “American Sniper” nominee Bradley Cooper took a moment to reflect on the politically polarizing movie and the fact that his character, Chris Kyle, was killed exactly two years ago today.

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