He Without Sin Was Not Invited

The Scene: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was transformed Tuesday night into a jampacked house of sins--seven of them, to be exact. The occasion was New Line Cinema’s premiere of “Seven,” a murder mystery starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman as police detectives who try to track a psychotic killer whose homicides are based respectively on gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, wrath, pride and lust. There was a reception following the screening in the academy lobby.

Who Was There: There was reason for pride because the affair drew more than 800 guests, including stars aplenty. Besides the film’s producers Arnold Kopelson and Phyllis Carlyle and director David Fincher, cast members Freeman and John McGinley showed up along with the mystery villain whose uncredited name we’re not at liberty to reveal. (Hint: He is one of those mentioned below.) Keeping the cast company was an enviable bevy of celebs including directors Quentin Tarantino, John Singleton and Robert Rodriguez, and actors Christian Slater, Matthew Modine, Tia Carrere, Lori Petty, Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Tilly, Eric Roberts, Steven Seagal, Michael Rappaport, Elliot Gould, Lou Diamond Phillips and many more we are too slothful to list.

Chow: Encouraging gluttony were buffet tables stacked with grilled pannini, wild mushroom risotto, skewered scallops, chicken and vegetables, ginger creme brulee, peanut butter truffles and lemon shortbread cookies.

What the Movie Is Really About: “I wasn’t certain the world could handle a movie likethis,” Kopelson said. The film contains some shockingly graphic footage and subject matter. “I pondered it for four months, and I decided that what this movie is about is, who is going to make a difference. Who will stand up and be counted?”

First Review: Singleton gave the movie a loud, director’s accolade, crying out, “That had balls, yeah! That had balls,” as the credits rolled.

What Are Your Favorite Sins? “The only one I’ll admit to is lust,” said lead actor Freeman. “That’s my trouble.” “I think in Hollywood, that would have to be envy,” said Tilly, “because actresses are always running around, looking at other actresses, and thinking, ‘Why them? Why not me?’ ” “Greed,” claimed “Cybill” co-star Alicia Witt. “It’s like a poison. You want one thing and then you’re happy with that and then you say, ‘OK, I have that. Let’s move on and get more.’ ”