One venerable method of escaping the worries of war and terrorism is to luxuriate in movie stars, lots of them. An afternoon at producer Jerry Weintraub's Malibu estate promises this.
It is a bright, clear California Saturday, and the sign at the beginning of the long driveway announces "Blue Heaven." On one side of the estate is a dusty riding stable, and on the other, desolate playground equipment and then a pool. At the end is a blue stucco house, rather large and indistinct, as if the Brady Bunch has just become immeasurably richer. The door is flung open, revealing commotion and well-groomed, cell-phone-toting publicists and makeup artists. Flanking the front door are floor-to-ceiling stained-glass portraits of Weintraub and his wife, Jane, a popular crooner in the '50s.
In a side garage, a veritable platoon of publicists perches on white rattan chairs, watching clients on a live feed talking to Barbara Walters in the living room of the house. This is a press day for "Ocean's Eleven," a remake of the famous 1960 caper movie that starred the Rat Pack--Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr.
The new "Ocean's Eleven," which premieres on Dec. 7, is as big and glossy a Hollywood production as can be remembered in recent memory, the point being to revel in beautiful stars plotting and executing a heist in the casinos of Las Vegas.
When the show finally breaks, the publicists move desolately into the sunshine to await their clients, who are the stars of the movie, and of this article.
They include:
George Clooney, 40. Clooney's wearing a suit and white shirt, and looks as if he's either stayed up all night being bad or is about to stay up all night being bad.
Julia Roberts, 34. She carries herself like an old-fashioned dame, despite the jeans, the green T-shirt, spike-heeled boots and auburn hair, which falls in improbable 1940s style curls. She is loud, flirtatious, giddy. Tonight is her birthday party, to be held at Blue Heaven.
Brad Pitt, 37. He is the reluctant movie star, but sweet. Like someone yearning to go home, he keeps changing back into his stretched-out white T-shirt, with the word "Life" emblazoned across the front, and beat-up jeans, only to return to a swank blue leather jacket and shirt, when a photo op calls.
