Best Oscars quips
2006-03-06 11:49
Los Angeles - The Academy Awards show on
Sunday was a mix of political humor and slapstick, thanks in
large part to new host Jon Stewart. Here are some of the
memorable quotes from the ceremony and backstage.
"Do you think if we all got together and pulled this down,
democracy would flourish in Hollywood?" - host Jon Stewart,
pointing to a tall Oscar statue behind him and likening it to
the statue of Saddam Hussein pulled down after the fall of
Baghdad when US forces entered the city in spring 2003.
"There are women here who could barely afford enough gown
to cover their breasts." - host Jon Stewart, joking that
Hollywood was losing money to pirates who illegally copy movies
and sell them.
"I'm here, I think, under false pretenses. I think I have
to become straight with you. Ten years ago, 11 years ago I had
a heart transplant, a total heart transplant." - director
Robert Altman, 81, disclosing his decade-long secret on stage
while accepting his lifetime achievement award.
"I think it's very good to have different reactions because
with different reactions you generate discussion, and
discussion is a good thing." - Hany Abu-Assad, director of
Paradise Now, a film that angered some Israelis who say it
condones suicide bombing, on the red carpet before the show.
"'Capote' showed America that not all gay people are virile
cowboys - some are actually effete New York intellectuals." -
Jon Stewart.
"Oscar isn't one of them." - Rachel Weisz, supporting
actress winner for The Constant Gardener when asked by
reporters what she would consider naming her soon-to-be-born
baby.
"We are a little bit out-of-touch in Hollywood. I think
that's probably a good thing. We are the ones who talked about
Aids when it was only being whispered ... We talked about civil
rights ... I'm proud to be part of this Academy, proud to be
part of this community, proud to be 'out of touch.'" -
supporting actor winner George Clooney on the political
messages in many of the nominated movies this year.
"Bjork could not be here - she was trying on her Oscar
dress and Dick Cheney shot her." - Jon Stewart.
"The great thing about animation is timing. You can really
control timing. Gromit is silent, but he got the best lines."
- British animator Nick Park, who won best animated feature
for "Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit."
"A lot of people say this town is too liberal, out of touch
with mainstream America ... a modern day, beachfront Sodom and
Gomorrah, a moral black hole where innocence is obliterated in
an endless orgy of sexual gratification and greed ... I just
thought you should know a lot of people are saying that." -
Jon Stewart.
"You know what, I think it just got a little easier out
here for a pimp." - Jon Stewart after "It's Hard Out Here for
a Pimp" from "Hustle & Flow" took the Oscar for best song.