The most memorable speeeches included self-effacing humor, from Todd Phillips of The Hangover who thanked his mother for “supporting him becoming a director because he wasn’t as smart as his two sisters”… and Julianne Margulies who admitted “I’d bow down to Glenn Close, but my dress would rip” to “…fifteen years ago I was on the loo and missed my whole category” from Toni Collette, and the producer of Glee who said “this is for everyone who got a wedgie in high school”. Ricky Gervais’ included lots of humor, the best when referring to himeself and the nighttime standup drama: “Let’s get on with it before NBC replaces me with Jay Leno.”
Another class act was John Lithgow when he bounded up on stage and perfectly listed the names of everyone who worked with him on Showtime, Dexter and his close circle of influence. He was prepped, rehearsed and ready to go… His co-star, Michael C. Hall (battling cancer) eloquently acknowledged his cast and crew with how much it meant for him to “go to work in a place where everyone gives a damn.”
Chloe Sevigny had a great line about being cast as a polygamist in the series Big Love. “I remain eternally confused and grateful.”
Christoph Waltz (who won an award for his supporting role in Inglorious Basterds) started by saying “A year and a half ago I was exposed to the gravitational pull of Quentin Tarantino… ” and although the rest of the speech could have been delivered more effectively, you have to appreciate the creative crafting he applied to his two minutes of fame.
Loved Martin Scorsese’s tribute to the Hollywood Press Association for restoring old movies that meant so much to him, and paying tribute to past filmmakers, “walking in their footprints” or relating his own personal “powerful cinematic experiences” to the works of DeMille, Ford, Bergman or Kurosawa… And topping it off using a quote from Faulkner “The past is never dead. It’s not even past” is why he’s a master.
Sandra Bullock combined humor, specific references to everyone who made her movie Blind Side a success, and even included a bit of German in a gracious acceptance speech.
Loved Robert Downey’s speech, putting down everyone, not thanking everyone, and quoting William Faulkner with “art in the blood is liable to take the strangest form and now I’m one of them.” (referring to the Hollywood Foreign Press) He had a fun time and we all went along for the ride.
For a lifetime of work, Jeff Bridges received a standing ovation, then began his acceptance speech with “You’re really screwing up my under appreciated status”. His acknowledgment of everyone involved was heartfelt, specific, and memorable– even his stand-in. We don’t see Jeff enough! Hopefully that will now change.
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