By Chad Rubel / February 23, 2009
See Video of Penelope Cruz’ acceptance speech, mostly in Spanish, Below.
It felt like the Oscars got the memo that the U.S. embracing of the world will be much improved under an Obama Administration.
The Oscars last night had a wide-ranging international feel. An British film set in India, “Slumdog Millionaire,” won 8 Oscars. Acting awards went to a Brit (Kate Winslet, Best Actress), a Spaniard (Penelope Cruz, Best Supporting Actress), and an Australian (the late Heath Ledger, Best Supporting Actor). The host was a fellow Australian, Hugh Jackman.
Cruz, whose performance consisted of speaking mostly in a foreign language in winning the Academy Award, summed up that international feeling last night in her acceptance speech:
… this ceremony was a moment of unity for the world because art, in any form, is and has been and will always be our universal language and we should do everything we can, everything we can, to protect its survival.
The night was also about embracing those different from most of us on domestic soil as well. “Milk” picked up two awards: Best Actor (Sean Penn) and Best Original Screenplay (Dustin Lance Black).
From Penn’s acceptance speech:
“For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think it’s a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the great shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that way of support,” Penn said. “We’ve got to have equal rights for everyone.”
From Black’s acceptance speech:
Referring to “gay and lesbian kids,” Black said: “No matter what everyone tells you, God does love you … very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights federally across this great nation of ours.”
The Academy is considered a conservative organization. For those who felt that “Brokeback Mountain” deserved more Oscars, there was a concern that the conservative Academy wasn’t ready for a film where two gay men were at the center. Last night might have proven that they are a little more ready than they were before.
Source / BuzzFlash
‘You, Commie, homo-loving sons of guns…’
From Advocate.com:
“You, Commie, homo-loving sons of guns,” Sean Penn said to laughs as he took to the stage to accept the Oscar for Best Actor in a Motion Picture for his work in the biopic Milk at Sunday’s Academy Awards.
The outspoken activist won for playing an outspoken activist and, true to form, quickly changed his tone and took the opportunity to make a political statement in support of marriage equality.
Penelope Cruz gana el OSCAR a la Mejor Actriz de Reparto
Now forever to be known as the Great Sean Penn.
The globalization of Hollywood, while it certainly should present us with many feel-good moments, is essentially One with the globalization of everything else. Third World nations have talented film makers, good technology — and yet I wonder if the technicians’ unions are as strong, or the payscale anything like those in the US? And picking your leading man and lady out of a horrendous slum is a sure way to cut costs! Remember, it’s not the activist actors such as Penn and Cruz who own the studios, the distribution networks, etc. There is a GLOBAL MARKET out there, and Hollywood is beginning to recognize that it can’t rest on its laurels if it wants to compete.