George Clooney says the best thing about Academy Awards nominations is not necessarily the prizes. It’s hanging with old and new friends.

    At the annual Oscar nominee luncheon* Monday, Clooney said he’s made new pals on the awards circuit this season and has been happy to catch up with longtime friends such as Viola Davis and Brad Pitt, his co-star in the “Ocean’s Eleven” movies.

    “A lot of people at home think we all hang out* together. I think they think we’re always at the Hilton drinking champagne. The truth is I hadn’t seen Brad in about a year” until they crossed paths around the time of January’s Golden Globes, Clooney told reporters before sitting down to lunch. “So it’s fun to catch up, and it’s fun to see people I like and haven’t seen in a long time.”

    Both are up for the best-actor Oscar — Clooney for “The Descendants” and Pitt for “Moneyball.”

    Clooney said he also has had fun getting to know other nominees such as best-actor contenders* Gary Oldman of “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” Jean Dujardin of “The Artist” and Demian Bichir of “A Better Life.”

    Pitt joked that like Clooney, awards season has allowed him to make a lot of new acquaintances*.

    “I met this guy named George,” Pitt said, stumbling over the pronunciation of the name, “G-g-george, Jorge Clooney. Very nice guy. Very personable and very nice guy.”

    Along with Clooney and Pitt, others among the 150 nominees at the luncheon included “The Help” co-stars Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer; “Albert Nobbs” co-stars Glenn Close and Janet McTeer; “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” star Rooney Mara; “My Week with Marilyn” co-stars Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh; “The Artist” co-star Berenice Bejo; and “Hugo” director Martin Scorsese.(SD-Agencies)