For "Don't Politicize your speech":

"Ms. Littlefeather, later revealed to be one Maria Cruz, a not particularly indigenous actress and Miss American Vampire of 1970, nonsensically explains that Brando's acting cannot possibly be lauded because American Indians are being mistreated. Even she couldn't be bothered to read his full 739-word tirade which includes the sentence, "Why is this woman standing up here, ruining our evening, invading our lives...?"

Apparently you couldn't be bothered to read the statement either because the sentence to which you refer was a rhetorical one that was answered in the following paragraph. From the statement:

"Perhaps at this moment you are saying to yourself what the hell has all this got to do with the Academy Awards? Why is this woman standing up here, ruining our evening, invading our lives with things that don't concern us, and that we don't care about? Wasting our time and money and intruding in our homes.

I think the answer to those unspoken questions is that the motion picture community has been as responsible as any for degrading the Indian and making a mockery of his character, describing his as savage, hostile and evil. It's hard enough for children to grow up in this world. When Indian children watch television, and they watch films, and when they see their race depicted as they are in films, their minds become injured in ways we can never know....

...Recently there have been a few faltering steps to correct this situation, but too faltering and too few, so I, as a member in this profession, do not feel that I can as a citizen of the United States accept an award here tonight. I think awards in this country at this time are inappropriate to be received or given until the condition of the American Indian is drastically altered. If we are not our brother's keeper, at least let us not be his executioner. "

The reasoning in that statement was pretty explicit and if you honestly do not understand why a person who believes that their industry had been complicit in the public defamation of a whole race would want to accept an award from said industry, I don't know what to tell you.

Roberto Benigni walked himself into Oscar history - as long as there are programs talking about the Oscars, there will be a clip of him walking over the chairs to the stunned amazement and amusement of the gathered tuxedoed horde. It was a brilliant and impulsive surge of joy from an otherwise unmemorable waste of 4 hours.

Whether he deserved the statue or not is another matter entirely, but I for one would love to see more exclamations like this rather than the usual blather.

I don't know why people keep repeating the ridiculous myth that a billion people watch the Oscars every year. Do you really think that many people in Uzbekistan or Burkina Fasso really give a rat's ass?

Julia Roberts is a total egomaniac. She did act like the earth stood still while she was up on-stage accepting that award... and that we were all just dying to have her remain up there forever. I thought her performance in Erin Brockavich was so over-rated and never deserving of the Oscar in the first place. And Tom Hanks win for Philadelphia was due to political correctness and a sympathy vote; Anthony Hopkins' performance in Shadowlands (for which he wasn't even nominated- he was up for Remains fo the Day instead) was far superior. Hanks' speech played right into that sympathy vote. AIDS victims deserve all the sympathy in the world, but Hanks did not.

Halle Berry's speech: Geez, get over yourself.

Julia Roberts speech: Her acting was terrible! It was a one-note performance.

Also, the Sasheen Littlefeather thing was great. I like watching the Oscars every year because something crazy-like always happens.

This is precisely why I never watch the Oscars. Revolting displays of egos and the politics involved ensure that the most deserving of this meaningless award never get it in the first place.
I find better entertainment, for my dollar, at local venues. Heck...I get more enjoyment out of watching the local high school productions than I do at the majority of Hollywood Blockbusters.
Kudos to the independent film makers and the actors who do their craft at a local level and never get the accolades or money that Hollywood Bluckbuster, overrated blowhards do.

Unfortunately, what the Oscars reveal is what performers are really like. They are often stupid and rude, vain, presumptuous, tone-deaf, or sometimes obviously deranged. They end up doing on the Oscar stage what they're paid not to do on the set; they bore us. Given that the actors who win are often enough playing to type and not stretching themselves--think Julia Roberts being herself in Erin Brockovich--it's safe to say that the best performers aren't the ones who are usually winning the awards anyway.

Don't hold me to this, but I think it was Woody Allen who once said (and I am paraphrasing) that the movie industry is the only industry in America that has the balls, each year, to pat itself on the back by giving itself and award (The Oscars) and then hype the whole thing up, as if it was The Second Coming. Anyone who would want to listen to the incessant drivel of acceptance speeches from the likes of George Clooney Tunes, Sean (there's a hole in my boat) Penn, Julia (teeth) Roberts, and that world renowned environmental expert 'Little Leo' 'D' defies comprehension. Be that as it may though,here's a thought. Maybe we could tape their acceptance speeches this Sunday , then take all the terrorists at Gitmo force them to sit in chairs, for hours on end all the while making them to listen to the speeches of these narcissistic, self absorbed morons. I guarantee, the terrorists would confess in a heartbeat, and tell the authorities all they need to know ,rather than being forced to listen to the likes of these air headed actors and actress pontificating ,ad infinitum, about the finer points of nothing.

Limit the entire goddamned slo-motion event to ONE HOUR.
All the awards.
One Hour.
Each winner has one minute to speak.
Thats it.
Enough.
"The Nominees are..."
"The Winner Is..."
Stop the Insanity!!

Must reply to dear resolute above. I think the point being made is that whether the question was asked rhetorically or not, it would have resounded in the minds of all listening with a loud response of " good question! "
Also, dear slobone. You know so little. It is exactly in places like the ones you mention that the glamour and spectacle of the oscars are most avidly viewed. Last I heard the worlds favorite TV program was 'Baywatch'.
You understand so little, yet are so confident that you know it all.

Was that Halle Berry acceptance speech an act in itself,
over the top cringe inducing forced hysteria?

Roberto Benigni's emotion was sincere,
not to mention funny in an otherwise
boring drawn out constipated event.

Did I miss the mention of
the greatest acceptance speech
of all time, Cuba Gooding Jr.?

Or was Gooding's speech too exuberant for the writer.

@T1Brit: My point was that the statement itself predicted that reaction and provided a response to it. Calling it "nonsensical" implies the point is not logical or understandable, but in this case it was simply awkward.

I actually enjoyed this article; it entertained me... as did Oscars 2009.

The only interesting thing about this horrendously boring waste of the public's airwaves is the Red Carpet; any actress who wears an interesting and cutting edge of fashion dress gets torn to pieces, but I love them! Or there's Cher, always wonderful. Then after I see the crowd of California girls turned middle aged who's hair has wilted into frizz in the heat I change the channel. That's a sight as well- a lot of wealthy wives who look like they got out of the shower and threw on a Valentino to go be on TV.
Thank god for satellite television. I hate the dog and pony show. Ever notice how rarely Best Picture stands the test of time?

Since ColorBox (above comment) says "I never watch the Oscars", why does it feel the need to comment?!