Last week’s Oscars had its own charms, whether in the form of a sweeping moment or something bordering on controversy.
Adrien Brody won his second Oscar statuette for a role he practically perfected for his first win—that is, portraying a man victimized by the Holocaust and surviving it. His acceptance speech is now labeled as the longest in the history of the ceremonies.
“Acting is a very fragile profession. No matter where you are in your career, no matter what you’ve accomplished, it can all go away,” expressed the star of The Brutalist. “What makes this night most special is the awareness of that, and the gratitude that I have to still do the work that I love.”
Brody, who later that evening received a kiss from Halle Berry in reference to their awkward Oscar moment more than two decades ago, had a somber look while delivering his speech—quite ironic given that he became the first actor to win a second Best Actor award on his second nomination. A perfect record, in other words.
Yet, it was easy to connect his facial expression to his experience playing a Hungarian Jew who survived the Nazi atrocities. You may imagine how I felt watching his speech, considering that just weeks ago I visited the RUTH (Remember Us The Holocaust) exhibit here in San Diego County, which is preserving the legacy of Holocaust survivors and aiming to establish a Holocaust museum in this part of California.
After requesting the Oscars orchestra to “please turn the music off,” Brody rightly stated what he felt he truly stands for. “I’m here once again to represent the lingering traumas and repercussions of war and systematic oppression, of antisemitism, racism, and othering. I pray for a healthier, happier, and more inclusive world. And I believe if the past can teach us anything, it’s a reminder to not let hate go unchecked.”
His speech, which was delivered amid a quiet, respectful crowd anticipating what he had to say, didn’t bore me a bit—just like listening to long, great songs like Hey Jude (The Beatles) or American Pie (Don McLean).
Likewise expected was Demi Moore delivering a speech—which didn’t happen. Fans were quick to react, claiming she was robbed of a victory. In hindsight, such an upset is good for Oscar history. I don’t buy the rhetoric that newcomers shouldn’t win just because a veteran is long overdue for the trophy. None of us knew if this could have been the only chance of winning for Mikey Madison—the first Gen Z actor to win an Academy Award in an acting category. No one should be assured of winning an Oscar, even if they are a perennial contender. Besides, a nomination is a victory of sorts, as an actor gets described as an Academy Award nominee for the rest of their career—an honor that upgrades upon a win.
“I grew up in Los Angeles, but Hollywood always felt so far away from me,” Madison said. “To be here standing in this room today is really incredible.”
It’s quite a cool feeling realizing that she is the same girl who played Manson girl Susan Atkins in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, where the so-called Sexy Sadie ended up deglamorized like never before. The cast of that film is becoming more and more legendary.
While the legend of Gene Hackman was appropriately honored, observers noticed the exclusion of some notable figures during the In Memoriam segment. It’s okay that a longer list is honored online, but the absence of Shannen Doherty, Tony Todd, and Michelle Trachtenberg in the televised segment caused a stir among film buffs. Trachtenberg died a day after Hackman was found “mummified” at home.
Apparently, the criteria for making it onto such a revered list are subjective on the part of the choosing committee. Some of them may be too young to recognize the magnitude of these artists’ work.
That is a lame excuse, though. They could have at least allowed Bernard Hill, the man who played Captain Edward Smith in James Cameron’s Titanic, to resurface.
Adam Sandler’s bit of wearing casual clothing at a necessarily formal showbiz event was good TV—just like when Mick Jagger presented the Best Original Song category. Yes, it would have been better if there had been a way to put him and fellow music legend Elton John together in one frame since the latter didn’t win the award and wouldn’t come up on stage.
Even a past video clip of Robert De Niro swearing went viral after fake news peddlers claimed it happened at the latest Oscars. Social media will always find a way to use the Oscars for viewership.
I am not a fan of showbiz people trying to be overtly political when delivering speeches. But Brody was fine expressing his sentiments against hate and bigotry without mentioning a particular person to berate. Being too specific can make one’s thoughts outdated in the long run.