Best & Worst Oscar Moments

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thursdaynext said:

I remember Nicole looking PISSED during the Oscars when she wore that gorgeous green dress with all of the embroidery on it. I remember being shocked at the time because they were such a golden couple. I think she has a tendency to look a little unamused and he has that tendency to try too hard to show that he is in on the joke so the combination was just hilarious. He would turn to her all jazzed and she would just smile wanly. Hee!

I remember that clearly, too! She was looking all icy and disinterested while he was grinning and spazzing. I recall wondering if she was trying to undermine him. You know, like "The more you frolic and cavort and grin the more I'll shrug you off, making you look like a geek."

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fotostoresheila said:

I remember this very clearly, but I think it was the 2001 Golden Globes, and not the Oscars. Nicole still had her hair styled in that lovely bob from The Others, and she looked royally pissed the entire night. I remember watching the show with a friend and using the phrase "spoiled ice princess". At the time I believed as most people, that Tom was the Best. Husband. Ever. Who knew that their marriage would soon be over and Tom's sanity would take a permanent vacation.

O/T Was the 2001 Golden Globes appearance the one when she presented an award to George Clooney? If it was then she was probably pissed for a couple of reasons. That was their last public appearance together because they announced the split about a week later. They didn't walk the red carpet and they didn't sit together either. He was with Cameron Crowe at the Almost Famous table and she and her father were seen backstage but later appeared sitting at the Gladiator table next to Russell Crowe. I don't know if its true but I read in one of the wrap ups of the night that she had been a late addition to the presenters roster and so didn't have a table to sit at. Russell found out after the event started and demanded they add a couple of chairs so they could sit at his table. I just remember watching and thinking it odd that Tom Terrific was seated at one table and his wife was at another. End O/T

But back to the Oscars. I really enjoyed Michael Caine's acceptance speech for his Supporting Actor Oscar. He addresed of all his fellow nominees in a really lovely manner, but when talking to Cruise he also made a light-hearted quip about the difference in standing between the lead and supporting actors. Something about not getting your own trailer.

The year Whoopi hosted Will Smith was nominated for Ali and Maggie Smith was nominated for Gosford Park. Will and Jada were seated next to Maggie specially for the moment when a camera could cut to them as Whoppi said "Oh look the Smith family is seated together!" They all cracked up and so did I.

Also, I'd add another vote for the Will Ferrell Jack Black You're Boring song. I think they should use that instead of the clock. They could pipe it in in such a way that it could only be heard on the stage, starting softly and growing ever louder as the winner continued to waffle.

[fiona3]

My favourite Oscar moment is from 1973: British actor David Niven was presenting an Oscar, when a streaker charged across the stage, flashing a peace sign. Niven (after recovering from laughing) simply quipped:

"Well, ladies and gentlemen, that was bound to happen. But isn't it fascinating to think that the only laugh that man will probably ever get in his life was when he stripped off to show his shortcomings."

Awesome!

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I came home late last night and was so tired I couldn't sleep (you know that feeling? It sucks). And that was after watching Babel. Anyway, for some reason I decided to get the tapes out from Oscar shows I have on video.

Watched parts of the 1999 show (Fishstick and Begnini's year) and I have to say....it was actually fun back then. Way more light-hearted (despite three WW II-movies among the BP noms) than now and that was not all that long ago. Of course, Fishy winning was a complete downer and I've noticed for the first time that in her speech, she mentions some SiL producers, grins and says "I didn't forget you this time!". Just to remind everybody that she had already won awards for this role and that she totally knew she was going to win there. Ugh. I loved Begnini but he got tiresome when he won Best Actor. But his (and Sophia Loren's) reaction to winning Best Foreign Language Film was adorable.
I also liked Whoopi as a host. She came out dressed as Queen Elizabeth I and later wore costumes from all the films nominated for Best Costume Design.

I then watched the 2001 Oscars when Steve Martin hosted for the first time. Joaquin looked so young and somewhat healthy back then! And of course it was the year that Julia won. I have to say....I love that speech! She didn't go all "I'm just a little girl from a trailer park/South-African farm/Tennessee" on everyone, she was confident without being smug about it, grateful, happy and actually celebrated winning an award. I prefer that to all the faux-humility up there and the crying and all that.
Best moments for me at the 2001 awards: Russell Crow winning (I'm the queen of the unpopular opinions today, aren't I?) and Kate Hudson losing against Marcia Gay Harden.

But there's one thing that bothers me about every Oscar ceremony: bloody montages! Stop already! It's ok if there's one at the beginning (the 1999 one was really great) but it's just not cool if there are 12 different over-long clips presented by non-nominees (usually John Travolta) that have no business being there anyway! Give more time to the nominees and winners and stop cutting off their speeches! Seriously, what's the point in having the show if you don't want to celebrate the winners?

[Atreides]

I just saw Halle Berry's acceptance speech on YouTube and damn if that isn't an Oscar Moment if I've ever seen one. It's just so melodramatic and overwhelming. It's nice to see winners show some emotion. I remember when Nicole Kidman won and she tried to cry but the Botox prevented her.

[lallybroch]

When Adrian Brody kissed Halle after he won the next year, I remember feeling simultaneously appalled and oddly turned on. The Halle Berry/Eric Benet marriage was hanging on by a thread at that point anyway, but I'm sure that didn't help.

But there's one thing that bothers me about every Oscar ceremony: bloody montages! Stop already! It's ok if there's one at the beginning (the 1999 one was really great) but it's just not cool if there are 12 different over-long clips presented by non-nominees (usually John Travolta) that have no business being there anyway!

They've had John Glenn and Colin Powell introduce montages! Seriously, do they have crap like this at the BAFTAs? We would have been fine without the tribute to Hollywood in Space.

Youtube is a great source for Oscar moments. The Rob Lowe/Snow White debacle is even more embarrassing than I could have imagined. I found Vivien Leigh's acceptance speech from 1940 (and have also discovered a world of fanvids for classic movie star couples. Larry and Viv's greatest moments, set to Coldplay and Smashing Pumpkins--who knew?). I think the winners knew in advance back then, though she clearly would have been a shoo-in that year.

[dutchninja]

I've always been amazed at how bad so many of the presenters are; they're professional actors but seem incapable of memorizing a short introduction and five names. They fidget with their glasses and stumble over words, while wringing their hands and not looking into the camera. Which was why I've generally been impressed whenever (deep breath) Tom Cruise presents. He comes on, fixes the camera, and just says his piece. Clearly, he shouldn't be allowed to wander off-script, but he can do awards.

As can Jennifer Garner. Loved her stumble and recovery at last year's ceremony.

[Atreides]

And there's nothing to even memorize with the TelePromTers right there! I think it's the fact that most Hollywood actors don't have much stage experience and get nervous in front of large crowds. I can't explain Tom Cruise though. I don't think anyone can.

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I agree that Tom Cruise is a very talented presenter (sounds like the best backhanded compliment ever!). He is usually quite charming and does what he needs to do and has rarely (if ever) made it all about him. Of course, this was before he became unable to control the crazy.

I really, really loved when Woody Allen made an appearance at the Oscars post 9/11 to praise New York and New York filmmaking. He never goes to the Oscars and even though he isn't the hottest director around by a longshot (not to mention his scandalous private life) he is one of the filmmakers most identified with New York and his speech was funny, moving and bittersweet (like the best Woody Allen films!). For him to break a long standing tradition and attend the ceremony to talk about the city that inspired some of the greatest films ever made meant a lot to me. It would have worked with other NYC-associated filmmakers like Spike Lee or Marty Scorcese but because of Allen's well-known reluctance to ever attend the Oscars, it felt like a more meaningful gesture.

[Sunnyhorse]

I seem to remember an Oscars telecast during which Jane Fonda delivered a short lecture on the old MPAA rating system (G, PG, R, X) in which she used a couple going on a picnic, engaging in increasingly lurid behavior as the ratings got naughtier, as her example. Very funny.

Fiona3, the David Niven quip was one of the funniest things I've ever seen. What a wonderfully droll man he was.