Jimmy Kimmel wrapped up his opening monologue at the recent 90th Academy Awards by announcing that a Jet Ski awaits the winner who’ll give the shortest acceptance speech.
“Why waste precious time thanking your mom when you could be taking your mom for the ride of her life on a Jet Ski?” the talk-show host said, as the stage opened up to reveal legendary actress Helen Mirren as a glimmery showgirl presenting the $18,000-ride ala-The Price is Right.
The show proceeded with the first award of the night, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, which was won by Sam Rockwell for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
Rockwell took the stage on a wave of rousing applause. He received the golden Oscar statuette from presenter Viola Davis, immediately placed it on the floor and pulled out a thank-you list from his blazer. “Run the clock, Jimmy. I want to get that ‘Ski Jet,’ or whatever that was,” the actor calmly said, before reading his prepared speech.
“When I was 8 years old, I was sent to the principal’s office and my father was saying, ‘We have to go. It’s Grandma,’” Rockwell recalled. “I said, ‘What’s wrong with Grandma?’ He said, ‘Nothing, we’re going to the movies.’”
The crowd broke into laughter. Rockwell recalled the joke to illustrate how his family has always been into movies, and how this genetic passion basically led him to that moment—with a piece of paper on one hand, the world on the other and an Oscars trophy at his feet.
Not everyone whose name was called as a winner last Sunday night was as cool and composed as Rockwell. Most had their hands shaking.
Others let out a big exhale before speaking. Some took it to Twitter to express their disbelief. Who can blame them?
It’s the grandest stage with the brightest lights. It’s the pinnacle of the Hollywood dream. It’s the Oscars.
With all honesty, what I found more interesting than learning who won the awards was watching
the winners’ reaction and their acceptance speech. “How would a person act for the first few minutes upon learning that his lifelong dream has finally been achieved?”
While some people like Rockwell had their emotions in check, others like Best Actress winner Frances McDormand wore their heart on their sleeve.
“Okay, so I’m hyperventilating a little bit,” said McDormand, who won the award also for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. “So I think this is what Chloe Kim must have felt like after doing back-to-back 1080s in the Olympic halfpipe. Did you see that? Okay, that’s what it feels like.”
Two-time winner and four-time nominee John Nelson, whose work for Blade Runner 2049 won the Best Visual Effects prize, gave quite the reaction, too, opening his speech with a flurry of sharp “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
Jordan Peele became the first black screenwriter to win the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for his critically acclaimed racial satire Get Out. After his acceptance speech, Peele walked off the stage with his hand covering his mouth in joyous disbelief. Later he tweeted: “I just won and Oscar. WTF?!?”
Composed or loose, the winners radiate the same level of inspiration to the audience all the same for achieving their goal. But some managed to draw out nuggets of wisdom that serve as much as a reminder of the journey to them as it is an advice for the viewers.
First was Gary A. Rizzo of Dunkirk, winner for Best Sound Mixing, who said: “Hang on to your dreams. They are so, so valuable.”
Meanwhile, Glen Keane of the Best Animated Short Dear Basketball said there are two things needed to exceed one’s self. “Whatever form your dreams may take, it’s through passion and perseverance that the impossible is possible.”
In 2014 Best Supporting Actress Lupita Nyong’o for 12 Years A Slave also delivered a poignant acceptance speech. “When I look down at this golden statue,” she said, “may it remind me and every little child that no matter where you’re from, your dreams are valid.”
In these trying times where inspiration from supposed leaders and icons is hard to come by, Hollywood tries to provide, starting with an annual three-hour show that gives things more golden than the awards it hands out.
(For the record: the Jet Ski went to costume designer Mark Bridges of Phantom Thread for his 30-second acceptance speech. He ended the show riding his new ride with Helen Mirren in the backseat.)