The Oscars stage is nothing if not a platform for posturing, something Jimmy Kimmel acknowledged early in Sunday night’s broadcast. “If you do win an Oscar tonight, we want you to give a speech. We want you to say whatever you feel needs to be said. Speak from the heart. We want passion,” he assured the crowd. “You have an opportunity and a platform to remind millions of people about important things like equal rights and equal treatment.”
Standing before a room of their peers and an at-home audience of millions (though fewer millions), Sunday’s winners seized that opportunity. But nobody needed Kimmel’s permission.
Most years, the predictable politics of Oscars speeches can be scripted weeks in advance by simply imagining a progressive’s response to the conservative offense of the moment. But this year, the #MeToo year, was understandably different. How does an industry celebrate itself when nobody believes it’s worthy of celebration?
Though there were solemn pauses of recognition — jokes at Harvey Weinstein’s expense, legitimately powerful appearances by his victims — the celebration proceeded.
Ashley Judd, Salma Hayek, and Annabella Sciorra, each of whom has accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct, were the picture of resilience as they acknowledged the industry’s failures on its biggest night of the year. Their speech faded into a video presentation in which various celebrities made some insightful remarks, but ultimately praised Hollywood for courageously producing films like “Black Panther,” “Lady Bird,” “The Big Sick,” “The Post,” and “Wonder Woman.”
To those watching the broadcast in pajamas instead of designer gowns, it may not have seemed like the moment for self-congratulations.
But it was Geena Davis’ contribution to the video that was, perhaps, the most telling. Davis reflected on the release of “Thelma and Louise,” which was met with predictions that Hollywood would be better to women. “That didn’t happen, but this is now that moment,” she declared.
But why should anyone believe that today? Davis’ personal sincerity aside, when people like Weinstein were peddling lines like “Hollywood has the best moral compass” up until last fall, the industry’s moralizing feels less believable now than ever before.
In that same video, comedian Kumail Nanjiani had some advice for his peers. “There’s so many movies from different points of view that are making a ton of money,” he said. “Don’t do it because it’s better for society and representation, even though it is. Do it because you can get rich.”
The crowd broke into laughter, but I’m not sure it was a joke.
