He was as equally gracious Thursday night in accepting the best director award. “As a Brit back in the old country, it’s amazing to see how generous you’ve been to this film,” he told the crowd. “Mumbai (where Slumdog was filmed) has had a tough time recently. This film was made as a love song to that amazing, extraordinary city in all its complexity.”
If Slumdog was once a million-to-one shot, the odds have decidedly turned in its favor.
More Memorable Moments
• Longest speech: Best actress Hathaway seemed genuinely stunned, making rambling comments that seemed heartfelt but totally unprepared. The 26-year-old woman, who last year suffered through an embarrassing split with a boyfriend sentenced to four and a a half years in prison, thanked the right people, though, especially her father “who protects me and has shown me that there are good men in this world and lets me know every day that I’m worthy of the love of good people.”
That left little time for Viola Davis, accepting for Streep, her Doubt co-star. Davis seemed much less stressed, though, using humor to win over the crowd. “Unfortunately, she didn’t tell me what to say. But I’m going to keep it brief because I know Meryl; we’re real close. I can just guess what she would say if she were here,” before concluding with, “She would especially thank me. I love you, Meryl.”
• Worst idea: Maria Menounos interviewing the winners coming off the stage. After her awkward attempt with Milk’s Emile Hirsch and James Brolin as part of the best acting ensemble (“Where’s Sean?” she wondered), someone wisely pulled the plug. Does that mean more outtakes on Access Hollywood?
• Class act: Diane Lane (Cotton Club, Unfaithful, Nights in Rodanthe), who presented the Joel Siegel Award to her three-time co-star, Richard Gere, saying, “The (award) was created to keep alive the spirit of this beloved critic by honoring someone who understands, as Joel did, that the true value of celebrity is that it has the platform to do good works for others.”
Article comments
1 - carmen
I hope Slumdog goes on to win the Oscar for best picture. I agree with you about Richard Gere ( hard to imagine Buddist monks yelling out what a babe).