| If "Bowling for Columbine" director Michael Moore divided the house Sunday at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre by delivering a blistering speech that was punctuated by the helmer chanting "Shame on you, Mr. Bush! Shame on you!" to a chorus of boos, it was "The Pianist's" best actor winner, Adrien Brody, who brought the crowd together with a plea for peace that drew a standing ovation.
Until Moore took the stage midway through the ceremony Sunday night, Hollywood appeared nearly mum about the U.S.-led invasion in Iraq -- even though ABC News' Peter Jennings interrupted the broadcast twice for two brief war updates. But following the warm response to Brody, others seemed to feel more comfortable adding politicized comments at the end of their speeches.
The Oscar audience erupted in applause when Moore's film was named best docu winner, but when the director launched into an antiwar speech, he was met with a chorus of boos.
"(Documentary filmmakers) like nonfiction," said Moore, who invited his fellow nominees to take the stage with him. "And we live in fictitious times, and we have fictitious election results that elect a fictitious president that sends us to war for fictitious reasons."
Some applause could be heard until boos filled the theater. Undeterred, Moore added: "We are against this war, Mr. Bush! Shame on you, Mr. Bush! Shame on you!"
As the band began drowning out Moore, he got in one more zinger: "And anytime you've got the pope and the Dixie Chicks
against you, it's a bad sign!"
Although Moore spoke many of the same words Saturday when he also picked up a best docu award at the Independent Spirit Awards, he was greeted with resounding applause at that gathering.
The Oscar audience was much more generous to Brody when the actor, who played a wartime survivor on film, took the stage and ended an emotional round of thank-yous with a message of peace as the house band almost played him off.
"Quit it," Brody told the orchestra. "I've only got one shot at this." He followed by adding: "After making this film, I am aware of the sadness and dehumanization of people at times of war and the repercussions of war. Whatever you believe in, whether it be God or Allah, may he watch over you and pray for a peaceful and swift resolution."
The crowd rose to its feet as Brody extended his thoughts to a pal from Queens, N.Y., who is stationed in Kuwait.
Backstage, an unfazed Moore said: "I think it's important to have the Oscars, and after all, isn't that what we are fighting for, our way of life?"
Others acknowledging current events from the stage included "The Hours" best actress winner Nicole Kidman, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Frank Pierson, presenters Barbra Streisand and Gael Garcia Bernal and Oscar winners Chris Cooper and Pedro Almodovar.
As to why she comes to awards shows "when the world is in such turmoil," Kidman said: "Because art is important ... and because you believe in what you do, and you want to honor that. It is a tradition that needs to be upheld, and at the same time, you say there are a lot of problems in the world. Since 9/11, there has been a lot of pain, in terms of families losing people and now with the war families losing people. God bless them."
Pierson said: "I want to say something personally: To all our men and women overseas, Godspeed and get you home soon. And to the Iraqi people, I say, 'Let's have peace soon, and let us live without war.' "
Early into Sunday's Oscar show, best supporting actor winner Cooper signed off his speech with a brief wish for peace, while Mexican actor Garcia Bernal said: "The necessity for peace in this world is not a dream but a reality. And we are not alone. If Frida (Kahlo) was alive, she would be on our side against war."
The Spanish Almodovar, who won for his screenplay for "Talk to Her," saluted "all the people that are raising their voices in peace." Moore's outburst provided the show's host, Steve Martin, with one of the few jokes of the evening that seemed to connect with the audience. "The Teamsters are now helping Michael Moore into the trunk of his limo," Martin cracked following Moore's exit.
Source: Hollywood Reporter | |
