This year’s Oscars happens this Sunday (Monday morning in Manila) as film buffs and Hollywood fans are once again on the lookout for special moments, may it be because of a remarkable acceptance speech, a stellar sing or dance number, a great joke from the host, or a sequence straight from, well, a cinematic scene.
The nearly 100 years of Academy Awards ceremonies are not lacking in truly unforgettable ones, whether for right or wrong reasons. Here are ten of them in random order, purely personal picks, and nothing personal.
1. Slap shock – Will Smith hits Chris Rock (2022)
Not that it was recent, but this incident should top the list for its sheer unlikeliness. It was unthinkable to see a man expected to win the Best Actor trophy laugh over a comedian’s joke about his wife, and then stand up, walk toward the stage, and do what is now dubbed “The Slap Heard Around The World.” Granted that the punchline was out of line, you still can’t slap someone in front of global TV. A dagger look would have been enough to send the message that you’re not cool with it.
2. Moonlight over La la land (2017)
Hollywood legend Warren Beatty held the envelope for Actress in a Leading Role when his Bonnie and Clyde co-star Faye Dunaway announced “La La Land” as Best Picture winner. Producer Jordan Horowitz corrected the mistake. In hindsight, Moonlight beating La La Land was considered an upset as the latter received a record-tying 14 nods that evening.
3. Shortcoming (1974)
Photographer, art gallery owner, and activist Robert Opel ran naked on stage and flashed a peace sign while host David Niven was introducing Elizabeth Taylor. Niven wittily reacted that “probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings.” Two years later, Opel announced he was running for president and his slogan was “Nothing to Hide.”
4. The award Don Corleone can refuse (1973)
American Indian Sacheen Littlefeather informed everyone that Best Actor winner Marlon Brando, for his titular role on “The Godfather,” “very regretfully cannot accept this award” in protest over how Native Americans are being portrayed in films. Brando’s action may have been partly triggered by George C. Scott declining his award a couple of years before, because of his “belief that performances can’t be compared to others.”
5. Charlie’s applause (1972)
Comic actor Charlie Chaplin, at age 82, was given an honorary award and a 12-minute long standing ovation. His 1940 sound film The Great Dictator is now hailed as a daring satire on Adolf Hitler who at the time had already invaded Poland to kick start the Second World War and eventually The Holocaust.
6. Kiss of a pianist (2003)
Adrien Brody became the youngest Best Actor winner at age 29 when he won it for The Pianist. He sealed his triumph with a somewhat passionate kiss with Halle Berry who presented the award. The latter later said she didn’t know what was going on. It was inappropriate to say the least.
7. About the Bush (2003)
Filmmaker Michael Moore took his time accepting his Best Documentary Feature award for Bowling for Columbine by ranting against former President George W. Bush and the invasion of Iraq, stating that “we are fighting a war for fictitious reasons.” He was booed. There is always a classier way to deliver one’s political comments.
8. Frozen Adele Dazeem (2014)
Actor John Travolta called Idina Menzel by that name when he introduced her performance of the now-classic Frozen original song Let It Go at the 86th Academy Awards. To mark the 10th anniversary of that gaffe, Menzel jokingly greeted Travolta’s version of her a happy birthday.
9. Cameron’s claim (1998)
James Cameron was expected to win Best Director for Titanic. But nobody wanted to hear him exclaim, “I”m the King of the World,” given his bossy reputation on the set. If he instead said he won his award “in a lucky hand of poker, a very lucky hand,” as Jack Dawson in the movie noted when asked how he got his ticket to sail on the big ship, it would have been cute.
10. Cheerful Cuba (1997)
Some Oscar winners embrace their winning moment sounding more excited than others. But then there was Cuba Gooding Jr, thanking everyone, jumping jubilantly, screaming, “Tom Cruise, I love you, brother, I love you, man!” as the orchestra served him good background music.