Appearing at the Decatur House on Saturday night to host Capitol File magazine’s anniversary party, actor Forest Whitaker found a pair of Washingtonians with whom he has much in common

Local filmmakers Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine received an Oscar nomination for “War/Dance,” their documentary about Uganda. Whitaker, of course, won the Oscar for Best Actor last year for his portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.

Their films even shared a supporting actor in Stephen Rwangyezi.

“He gave us Oscar advice,” Sean Fine said. “He said to take it all in, don’t get caught up in the moment.” Fine and his wife will attend a luncheon in Los Angeles for nominees this week.

Whitaker, who appeared with his wife, Keisha, told Yeas & Nays that he expects the writers strike to be resolved so the Oscars can happen as scheduled.

So who does he like to succeed him as best actor? “It’s hard because the performances are so different,” he said, but he added that Daniel Day-Lewis has been receiving most of the awards, so he’s likely the favorite.

He said he expected to present the Best Actress statue to Julie Christie for her work in “Away From Her.”

Also on hand: Stevie Wonder’s wife, Kai Milla Morris, who designed Keisha’s dress.

Later in the evening, Keisha took a guest turn at the DJ turntable. The first song she played? Jay-Z’s “99 Problems but a B**** Ain’t One.” (The same tune the Obama campaign raised some eyebrows with by playing before the candidate’s victory speech in Iowa. Whitaker has donated $2,300 to Obama’s campaign.)

Unlike most celebrity appearances, which are in-and-out affairs, Forest and Keisha even stuck around for the last dance of the night (fittingly to Donna Summer’s “Last Dance”).

http://www.examiner.com/blogs/Yeas_and_Nays/2008/2/4/Local-filmmakers-accept-Whitakers-Oscar-advice

Yeas & Nays headed to the Big Apple Wednesday to break down the Super Tuesday results on “Fox & Friends.” Afterward, we headed to Manhattan’s premiere lunch-time hot spot — Michael’s Restaurant — on its hottest day for power dining. Accordingly, we present you with a Big Apple version of our signature “Meet and eat” feature.

CBS senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield rubbed elbows and discussed election results with his standard lunch mates: Plastic surgeon Gerry Imber (Jeff: You looking to get some work done, buddy?!?), Daily News columnist Michael Kramer and Jerry Della Femina. The foursome (which included Joel Siegel until his death) have been meeting at Michael’s for lunch for decades.

Also that weekend, the Creative Coalition is bringing in a handful of celebs for a charity poker night they’re co-hosting on Friday with Capitol File at the Park Hyatt.

Expected to attend from the Left Coast: George Washington University grad Kerry Washington, who starred in “Ray” and “The Last King of Scotland”; Tim Daly, who returns again in this week’s episode of “The Sopranos”; “Sopranos” alum Joe Pantoliano; and Tim Blake Nelson of “Syriana” and “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” among other actors.

Robin Bronk, executive director of the Creative Coalition, told us that as of now, she and Washington are attending the dinner.

Among People magazine’s guests: rapper Wyclef Jean, “Project Runway” design guru Tim Gunn, comedian Eddie Izzard and Zac Ephron of “High School Musical.”

We don’t smoke anymore...
The Glickmans were among the guests Saturday evening at the national premiere of “Thank You for Smoking,” based on Christopher Buckley’s Washington novel, The event and after-party at Blue Gin, hosted by Capitol File magazine, attracted Judy Woodruff and Al Hunt, Frank and Mary Fahrenkopf, Harold Brazil, Jason Binn, Buckley and the star of the film, Aaron Eckhart, who plays a tobacco lobbyist.

...Or less
Glickman called the film “very timely” and added: “There’s a strong movement to get any film with cigarette smoking rated R.” The comedy, with its strong message, didn’t deter some hardy (or foolhardy) guests from lighting up outside the theater. We’re sure it won’t deter lobbyists either.