When presenting Best Picture, Al Pacino says he did as he was told
Oscar-winner Al Pacino was criticized for his presentation of the Best Picture award at last nights Academy Awards. It wasn’t his call
Aux News Al Pacino
Photo: Arturo Holmes
Al Pacino has responded to criticism regarding his presentation of the award for Best Picture at last night’s Academy Awards. Shuffling onto the stage with the Godfather theme playing behind him, the unassuming Oscar-winner appeared to go off script, ditching the customary reading of the nominees and jumping straight to tearing open the envelope. For those in attendance and those at home, his so-called slip-up allowed the show to end on time. But we must ask ourselves, at what cost?
Part of the confusion arose from Pacino’s insistence that, upon arriving at the microphone, “some Shakespeare, now I think, is in order,” giving the impression that Mr. Pacino wasn’t quite sure what to say, especially when he started his recitation of Hamlet’s famed soliloquy before censoring himself. What he didn’t do was the customary reading of the names of the 10 best picture nominees, and instead gave a blanket statement of “10 wonderful films were nominated, but only one will take the award for Best Picture.” He also appeared to stall by saying, “I have to go to the envelope for that, and I will. Here it comes. And my eyes see Oppenheimer.”
Pacino’s unsure delivery left viewers at home and in the room perplexed. Some, including Jimmy Kimmel, believed he didn’t know what he was doing. Later in the evening, the host remarked to Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, “It seemed like everyone in America knows the rhythm of how it’s supposed to go, down to ‘And the Oscar goes to… .’ But not Al Pacino! God bless him.” Alas, neither was the case.
In response to the criticism, Pacino released a statement to Deadline, clarifying that it was not his choice to nix reading each nominee’s name but a decision made by the show’s producers as the films were highlighted individually throughout the night.
“There seems to be some controversy about my not mentioning every film by name last night before announcing the Best Picture award. I just want to be clear it was not my intention to omit them rather a choice by the producers not to have them said again since they were highlighted individually throughout the ceremony. I was honored to be a part of the evening and chose to follow the way they wished for this award to be presented.”
Pacino acknowledged that an Oscar nomination is “a huge milestone” and to be denied recognition is “offensive and hurtful.” The actor said he “deeply” empathized with filmmakers, actors, and producers who “have been slighted by this oversight.” Our thoughts are with Bradley Cooper at this time.
20 Comments
They didn’t recap the Best Original Song list either, reminding people that they were performed throughout the night, so of course they wouldn’t recap the Best Picture list
And just who do you think you are, bringing logic into an internet discussion?/s, because these are the times we live in
They always recap the nominees before presenting the winner, so this was definitely not normal. Really bad decision, especially because the show ran short and naming the nominees wouldn’t have affected anything.
Like the OP said, this was a pattern that was used for best song as well.
I guess based on how best song went the same way this is the ‘new normal’. Also it doesn’t matter at all.
I miss his ‘Hoo-hah!’
“You MTV-watchin’ mama’s boy!”
(yeah, that meant something in 1996!)
Why do this? Pacino came out of that looking like an old man who forgets things, and you’re telling me that’s what the producers where going for??
Yeah, the whole night featured actors that have been famous for decades. And it was pretty obvious that Oppenheimer was going to win.
Im having a very hard time figuring out how exactly this reply connects to the comment that you are replying to. Did you reply to the wrong comment, or have a stroke, or…?
Both of them should ease up on the hair dye
“Both”? Who else?
Guessing he means Nolan
I dunno, I enjoyed and appreciated it. I mean, come on, it has been a foregone conclusion all awards season (and considering the awards won before) that it was going to be Oppenheimer. And 2 actors, the editor, and director had already been up there. So what. It’s not like he said the wrong name or was given the wrong envelope or something.
The Best Picture nominees were highlighted all night. The Best Song nominees weren’t read before announcing the winner either. Pacino did come off a little awkward when he stepped out on stage, and I think he could have put a little more showmanship into announcing Oppenheimer as the winner (“And the Oscar goes to…”), but whatever. The award got handed out, and that’s all that matters.
This, 100%. Pacino very much gave off the vibe of someone who was told moments before going on stage that he actually wouldn’t be reading the list of nominees. (“So what am I gonna say, huh?” “You’re Al Pacino, you’ll think of something, we have confidence in you! Now go out there.”)
I wonder if the “My eyes see….” thing was some Shakespeare reference also which just didn’t land.
I thought it was an acknowledgment of the unreliability of Oscar envelopes after the Moonlight/La La Land debacle; i.e., a slightly less direct way of saying “It says here on the card….” Or it could just be he doesn’t see that well. He’s 83, after all.Also, according to Deadline, Michelle Pfieffer was supposed to present with him but had a family emergency, so whatever they had planned had to be scrapped and he was left out there alone.(You’d think one of the show’s two dozen writers could have come up with a script for him to follow or they could have found someone in the audience willing to present the Best Picture award with Pacino, but that’s show biz.)
Didnt we just all assume Pacino was having a stroke?