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On March 23, 2003, as the remainder of the world watched televised pictures of detainees and corpses recognized as American troopers, limos carrying high-fashion-clad celebrities pulled into what was then generally known as the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles. Was recognized.
The USA had invaded Iraq simply three days earlier, and, as of that morning, there was nonetheless a chance that the Oscars wouldn’t be there.
As quickly as A-listers like Nicole Kidman, Halle Berry and Steve Martin – the hosts – had been escorted by means of metallic detectors amid a big regulation enforcement presence, a number of blocks away, clubbing cops had been making an attempt to get near the theater. The protesters confronted off (nobody did).
This yr, one other battle is within the headlines because the Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences prepares for one more Oscar award. Till now, virtually nobody has spoken up at previous awards exhibits, however in 2003 it was very totally different.
Director Chris Sanders recalled in a latest interview, “When our fellow Individuals had been abroad and about to be concerned in one thing that was very harmful, it felt unusual to decorate up like that and go into this factor.” Sanders was nominated for Finest Animated Function Movie that yr for steering “Lilo & Sew”.
Within the weeks earlier than the ceremony, greater than 100 actors, together with Matt Damon, Jessica Lange, Helen Hunt, George Clooney, and Danny Glover, signed a letter to President George W. Urged Bush to not assault Iraq. A day earlier, actors Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins and Oscar-nominated director Pedro Almodovar had been amongst 1000’s of people that marched in Hollywood to protest the struggle.
And hours after the struggle started, a number of presenters, together with Cate Blanchett and Jim Carrey, backed out, citing safety considerations and out of respect for army households. Peter Jackson, whose movie “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” was nominated for Finest Image, additionally determined to go away the present.
Sanders stated, “It was a bit bit like 'Are they going to occur?'” “And in the event that they do, who's going to come back?”
The Academy Awards, which will probably be handed out on Sunday for the 96th yr, have by no means been canceled outright. Through the pandemic, they passed off partially remotely, with some nominees and presenters showing from hubs in London and Paris. Throughout World Warfare II, after preliminary cancellations, the Oscars went on as scheduled, however formal apparel was banned and the ceremony was renamed a “dinner” slightly than a “banquet”.
In 2003, the present's broadcaster, ABC, requested the Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences to take the same course, however the Academy refused, partly as a result of the Kodak Theater wouldn’t be out there till later. As an alternative, the Academy determined to carry the ceremony as deliberate, however with a number of modifications: The incoming nominees and their visitors wouldn’t parade on the purple carpet – for the primary time – and would as an alternative be requested to put on darker colours and extra mild clothes. Can be requested for.
Sanders stated he knew it could be very troublesome for “Lilo & Sew” to win. “We had been up towards Miyazaki for 'Spirited Away',” he stated. However different candidates grappled with whether or not to handle the struggle in the event that they gained.
“Stars had been extra hesitant to say something that may alienate ticket patrons,” stated Jules Dixon-Inexperienced, a College of North Carolina professor who teaches a course on leisure public relations. “However as social media platforms have grow to be extra vibrant and strong, celebrities are realizing that persons are really searching for genuine views from individuals they admire, respect and observe.”
In 2003, “Chicago” led the night with 13 nominations, together with Finest Image, Finest Director for Rob Marshall and Finest Actress and Supporting Actress for Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Martin Scorsese's historic crime fiction “Gangs of New York” was shut on its heels with 10 nominations, and the psychological drama “The Hours” acquired 9 nominations, together with finest actress for Nicole Kidman's function as author Virginia Woolf. Was.
The primary award of the night time was given to “Spirited Away”. Filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki was not current and provided no rationalization on the time. In a 2009 interview with the Los Angeles Occasions he stated he had boycotted the awards due to the assault.
“I didn't need to go to a rustic that was bombing Iraq,” he stated. “At the moment, my producer silenced me and didn’t permit me to say this, however right this moment I don't see him round.”
The primary winner to say struggle was Chris Cooper, who gained Finest Supporting Actor for his efficiency as a virtually toothless orchid thief in “Adaptation.”
He stated, “In view of all of the troubles on this world, I want for peace.”
Then issues went off the rails.
After a virtually nine-months-pregnant Zeta-Jones acquired an award for her efficiency as villainous vaudevillian Velma Kelly in “Chicago,” Michael Moore took to the stage to simply accept finest documentary for “Bowling for Columbine.”
Becoming a member of the opposite documentary nominees on stage, they stated they had been making a joint assertion: “We’re towards this struggle,” they introduced and had been greeted with loud boos. (“Music, music!” the Oscar broadcast director, Lewis J. Horwitz, was heard yelling.)
Steve Martin stated a couple of minutes later, “It was very candy backstage.” “It’s best to have seen it. “Teamsters serving to Michael Moore into the trunk of his limo.”
After which got here one of many largest shocks of the night time: Halle Berry introduced that Adrien Brody had gained his function as an unlikely Holocaust survivor in Roman Polanski's “The Pianist,” beating out Nicolas Cage, Michael Caine, Daniel Day-Lewis. Received the Finest Actor Award for his efficiency. And Jack Nicholson.
An excited Brody – who on the age of 29 grew to become the youngest actor to win the class – walked onto the stage, kissed a stunned Berry (she later stated the episode had made her uncomfortable) and calmed down. And used his speech to enchantment for safety and the withdrawal of American troops.
He stated, “Whether or not you consider in Allah or God, could He watch over you and pray for a peaceable and fast decision to this struggle.”
A couple of minutes later, the Finest Actress award was offered to Kidman, who, whereas accepting her award, requested: “Why do you come to the Academy Awards when there's a lot turmoil on this planet? As a result of artwork is essential.”
Momentum was picked up for Finest Image for “The Pianist” after Brody gained Finest Actor and Ronald Harwood gained Finest Tailored Screenplay for the movie. Then Polanski, who has not returned to the US since fleeing whereas awaiting sentencing for statutory rape, was named Finest Director over the favorites, Marshall and Scorsese.
Nonetheless, the night time ended as anticipated, with “Chicago” profitable its sixth statuette for Finest Image, making it among the finest within the historical past of “Oliver!” It grew to become the primary musical to win since. (1968)
Scores for the ceremony, which lasted three and a half hours and was the primary Academy Awards to be broadcast in high-definition, confirmed that it attracted 33 million viewers, making it probably the most watched and lowest-rated present on tv as much as that point. That one grew to become the Oscar ceremony. As an alternative, massive numbers of viewers tuned in to protection of the Iraq Warfare.
The references to Iraq that pervaded the night time had been in stark distinction to the awards exhibits to this point this season, when – after two years wherein virtually each ceremony acknowledged the struggle in Ukraine – the battle between Israel and Hamas was principally ignored. Has been given.
“It's terrifying,” a studio govt informed The New York Occasions' awards season columnist, Kyle Buchanan, final week. “Persons are apprehensive about their careers.”
Nonetheless, outdoors the US, actors and filmmakers have been extra vocal. On the BAFTA awards in London final month, producer James Wilson, accepting the award for finest movie not within the English language for his Holocaust movie, “The Zone of Curiosity,” urged an finish to “selective empathy,” and his Parallels had been drawn between them. The movie and the Israeli bombing and invasion of the Gaza Strip in latest months.
It's unlikely we'll see such daring rhetoric on the Oscars on Sunday, Dixon-Inexperienced stated. However he stated he anticipated at the very least one winner to say the struggle or the election.
“There's one thing totally different about Oscar night time,” he stated. “The winners – even when it's only a temporary point out or two – really feel a duty to say one thing about what's taking place in our nation or the world.”