The 2015 Oscar review is in! Which speeches ROCKED?
So another Oscars has come and gone, and they did not disappoint! This was the first time that I’ve ever watched the FULL ceremony from start to finish. The verdict: Some touching acceptance speeches, some political activism, and some complete disregard for the “start wrapping up your speech, please” music. But who can blame them? While I’m usually a stickler for respecting the time limits, when you’ve got that moment in the spotlight in front of, oh, say… a billion people!….hey, even *I* might take a few extra seconds to enjoy it too.
For a high-level recap of the speeches, check out this 3.5 minute segment where I was featured on Breakfast TV Montreal, bright and early the morning after the Oscars.
MY TOP OSCAR SPEECHES
There were so many Oscar speeches – 27, to be exact – but here are the top 4 that really left an impact for me, for reasons that are not only so much about WHAT they said, but HOW they said it. Here are the speeches that I thought were worth talking about the next day:
1. Two Men, Two Vastly Different Speaking Styles, ONE Impactful Message — Common and John Legend – “Best Original Song”
Two very different types of speakers who both made an equal impact. When Common started speaking, you could tell the power coming from him. He was a very strong speaker with a very commanding presence. When he spoke, he was absolutely captivating in his passion for the subject of the movie, equal rights, and justice. When he was done and John Legend took the microphone, I actually thought to myself, “How is he going to follow THAT?” And yet, despite having a much more soft-spoken and ‘gentle’ speaking style, he spoke with a calm, quiet confidence that equally matched Common’s impact, despite the latter’s higher level of intensity. Two very different types of speakers, yet they both spoke with great impact.
2. To Read or Not to Read, That Is the Question – Patricia Arquette (Best Supporting Actress) and Julianne Moore (Best Actress)
Patricia Arquette read her Oscar acceptance speech, while Julianne Moore had an eloquent speech that didn’t use notes. Does that mean that Julianne’s speech was BETTER than Patricia’s, or that Julianne was more well-prepared? Absolutely not!
The way I see it, when you’re preparing for a possible moment to shine in front of a billion people, it’s not the time to stress out over what you’re going to say. I would imagine that the moment on that stage is a pretty emotionally-charged one. If Patricia Arquette wanted to be sure that she didn’t miss anyone that she had to thank, or didn’t want to forget any part of her political statement, then by all means….write it down! In a case like this, if using notes alleviates your stress and allows you to speak you message in a calmer, clearer way, then go ahead! Kudos to her for preparing in the way that she felt she needed to be prepared.
Julianne Moore was able to speak easily, without notes. But do we know if she prepared for the possibility of winning by rehearsing this speech hundreds of times? Nope. Do we know if she forgot to say something, or thank someone, because she didn’t have notes? Nope. Does it even matter to us? Nope. Whatever the case, she was able to speak eloquently without her notes – so kudos to her as well.
3. It’s OK to Freak Out – Eddie Redmayne (Best Actor)
Wasn’t this just a great moment of pure, unbridled joy? I loved the moment where he stops talking and just goes “wow!!”, while attempting to catch his breath. He was so excited, so honoured, and it was a pleasure to watch such a genuine emotional reaction.
4. Go Kiss Your Mother! — JK Simmons (Best Supporting Actor)
What more can be said about this one, other than…go kiss your mother! (and don’t forget to call your parents).
I’d love to know what you think too. Which Oscar speeches do YOU think really stood out?
