actually, the academy tells everyone nominated to write out what they want to say on a piece of paper and bring it up with them.

that way they will speed through it and take less time.
at least, that's the idea.
they've gotta find a way to shorten the Oscars.

Well, it still bothers me.
I've been glancing over some of your past posts Lord Andry, and y'know, I think you know too much. It's true that knowledge is power, but too much power messes with the mind

i too am embarrassed by screeds of emotion and Halle's acceptance speech was just one example (the worst one i've ever seen live was mrs slouch herself - gwyneth paltrow)
at least with Halle's speech though i could see why - it was a big step forward for all black actresses (can we still say actresses? female actors, perhaps) - gwyneth never had that excuse!
Lord Andry, i'm sure you'll be able to correct me -.

valeria, i have pondered your comments regarding crumpled pieces of paper and i have to say that over the years, award winners seem to have become aware of the significance of thanking even the 'loman' involved in the making of a film and want to remember to thank them all - don't want to miss out a soul - it is considered a huge insult to miss anyone out - you only have to remember Julia Roberts speech last year and peoples' reactions to those she forgot to thank to see that. under those circumstances, i would be inclined to write out a list too - not out of arrogance, but out of a fear of forgetting to mention anyone if i won.

I agree about the emotions bit, allynellie, and I think it's because we are Brits. I'm also not convinced about breaking boundaries for black actors. I know it's very idealistic, but we should start to just see how fantastic an actor someone is and not what colour they are. What I think Halle Berry has done is break out of the mould of "Oh this is a role for a black actress" and that is the best thing. Whether it's because she's beautiful or a great actress (bit of both prob) but it's the best thing she can have done. I'd like to see a time when it's not a surprise or "political" when someone of a different colour (I know that sounds politically incorrect but I hope you get my meaning) wins any award.

As for Gwynnie I think her excuse was something about ilness in her family or something along those lines. Her Dad and a grandparent or something.

One thing I will say about Denzel (and I haven't seen "Training Day"), but he does seem to go for roles that are a bit "right on". I will always remember him in "The Siege", how he was always the one who saved everyone and the day...oh and what a concience he had. Brucie's role was much better. If we do have to talk about actors in terms of ethnicity then Samuel L Jackson, Morgan Freeman and Chow Yun Fat (spelling?????) tend to take on much more challenging and diverse roles.

Hope that wasn't too heavy!!!!

ambergeorge

without giving too much of the plot away, in 'training day' doesn't denzel play a very unconventional role (for the type of roles he has been apt to play in recent years)?

and i do get what you mean about how colour shouldn't play a part in award winning, but the fact remains, that we live in just such a world, that this has been a big issue.

anyhow, i think we all seem to be agreed about 'gwynnie' !!!

ambergeorge...
have to agree with you on all points.

Colour? I don't care if you are purple....If a role is not worthy of an oscar, it is simply not worthy. I personally think that Denzel should have won for previous roles, not this one. What is the challenge in playing a corrupt LA cop?

It was way too obvious that the brits and aussies were snubbed for the most part. A sense of patriotism does not make a mediocre movie any better in my eyes. The US may put out more movies than anyone else, but it sure as hell doesn't make them better. I enjoy quality over quantity any day.

My bad.

I wasn't aware that the Academy requests that all nominees make a list of the people they wish to thank (but that was easily remedied by Lord Andry, thank you), and you do have a point, allynellie, about the significance of thanking everyone who was involved, and I know that if I got up there, with all the lights and the hundreds of people, my mind would go completely blank. So I guess i'm not one to criticize the winners acceptance speech techniques (though I revel in doing so), and I hereby relinquish all grievances with the 'crumpled bit of paper'

You see...

the Oscars have accomplished their purpose.
we are talking about it and debating it.
and we going to see movies.

this is exactly what I mean about the Oscars putting things into our consciousness.

We think about the actors and the celebrities.
we think about the snubs.
we talk about the roles...

in the end, the Oscars is just one big advertisement.

So, Keep It Up!

Y'all keep LA employed.

oh, and the Lord is the man who knows things.