Flicks' 10 Best Oscar Moments Of All TimeRSS

Flicks' 10 Best Oscar Moments Of All Time

19th Feb 2009
By Andreas Heinemann, Flicks.co.nz

Oscar night isn’t just about acknowledging the finest cinematic achievements of the last 12 months. It’s also about ridiculously expensive party frocks, industry insider politics and tedious acceptance speeches. Occasionally though, someone bucks the trend. Here are 10 moments that made sure that year’s incarnation weren’t total yawn-fests...

1. Quentin Tarantino spits at the wrong man
Quentin Tarantino spits at a reporter on the red carpet 1997, and looks like even more of a prick when it’s revealed he mistook an MTV presenter for a journalist from Premiere magazine. Apparently the intended victim wrote an unflattering article about Tarantino’s dad, so clearly deserved it.
Watch video here.

2. Roberto Benigni in love with the Academy
Roberto Benigni clambers over chairs, remarks on how hot he thinks the presenter is and tells the audience how much he wants to kiss all of them. Seemingly he was pretty stoked with winning the best foreign language film category in 1999.
Watch video here.

3. The Streaker
David Niven has his presenting duties rudely interrupted in the most unlikely way, a streaker, back in 1974. Give Niven his due, his composure and ad-libbing skills were up to the task.
Watch video here.

4. Moore vs Bush
Michael Moore brings a posse of documentary filmmakers on stage in 2003 to back him up during his anti George W. rant. Decide for yourself whether the academy intelligentsia is with him or against him.
Watch video here.

5. Palance does push-ups
They don’t make ‘em like this anymore. Jack Palance wins best supporting actor in 1992 and celebrates by running down Billy Crystal, swearing and performing a few one handed push ups.
Watch video here.

6. Marlon Brando takes a stand
When you’re as good as Marlon Brando, you can pretty do much ever you want. That includes sending an Apache Indian on stage to decline your best actor win in 1973 because of racism in the film industry. She wasn’t really a Native American, but was Miss American Vampire 1970. Honest to God.
Watch video here.

7. Sally Field becomes the Queen of Gushing
In 1984, Sally Field uttered probably the most quoted line ever delivered at the Oscar podium.
Watch video here.

8. Cuba Gooding Jr is high on life
Foolish orchestra, you can’t stop Cuba Gooding Jr. when he’s on this kind of a role. To be fair, stampeding elephants probably couldn’t have stopped the most energetic acceptance speech ever back in 1997.
Watch video here.

9. Halle Berry needs a hanky
A crying actress had to make an appearance on the list, and Halle Berry wins on sheer volume of tears back in 2001. Commiserations to Gwyneth Paltrow who came so very, very close for her own famous display of waterworks in 1999.
Watch video here.

10. James Cameron's finale
James Cameron proclaims himself "King of the World" after picking up best director for Titanic in 1998. With 11 Oscars that night he pretty much was, but it’s still a ridiculously cheesy line.
Watch video here.