<p>Hats off to Sean Penn! He does set standards and since he represented Milk, he did the right thing to speak about gay rights. Although perhaps his performance was more thought provoking than any speech.</p>
<p>bravo to seeing Sophia Loren this evening…I liked the Best Actor/Actress handoff style this year…a bit talky but powerful athough it was a bit of a loss to not see clips of performances more.</p>
<p>So sad to see Paul Newman, James Whitlock, too young-Anthony Minghella, Sydney Pollack and Charlton Heston say farewell</p>
<p>I loved seeing my son come home from working the Oscar Party in his tux…in our historic local fine film theatre…he is a huge movie fan and longs to be somewhere where more people can discuss films…asked him to give me a call next year during the Oscars…last time he will be here with us. I suspect he will have many many new friends to yack about movies with by next spring…</p>
<p>I will add that my daughter is an actor. I know she cares deeply about doing work that brings people together, to provoke thought, and to effect change. Her job is not to merely “entertain.” A work like MILK has an important story to tell. If it can move people to discuss the issues in the film and to make changes in the community, that is part of the goal of the artist. In that regard, Sean Penn’s speech was very much related to his work as an actor in that film.</p>
<p>I’ve always watched the Oscars with my son in the past. This year he is a freshman acting major many miles away from me. So I texted back and forth during the show with him and his musical theatre major girlfriend. After Sean Penn’s acceptance speech, he texted I LOVE SEAN PENN. We also were imaging Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter’s heads were exploding after the acceptance speech by the MILK screenplay writer (?)</p>
<p>Penn was amazing in Milk. His speech last night was dignified and relevant to the role for which he won. You don’t necessarily have to agree with him entirely (not sure I do)
in every detail, but I thought it was one of the times that a thank you speech that went into political/social areas was appropriate. And his overall charm, following DeNiro’s wonderful introduction, made a great inproession toop–thoguh I also noticed he forgot to thank his wife. I was surprised how much I liked Milk, and seeing Penn the person up there last night strengthened that overall impression–such a core of decency, which has nothing to do with sexual preference.</p>
<p>It’s Hollywood’s night - the winners are entitled to say whatever they want during their acceptance speeches. It can be political, or embarrassing, or silly, or gracious, or moving, or dumb. If you don’t like it, OP, don’t watch.</p>
<p>Sean Penn is a complicated man. And a brilliant actor! I’m glad he won. I thought all of the acting nominees this year were deserving. </p>
<p>I don’t think the show worked all that well. But Hugh Jackman rules!</p>
<p>I just noticed that if you glance quickly at MILK (depending on your font) it can be mistaken for MLK… spooky! </p>
<p>I stopped watching by the time Penn gave his speech but I thought the winning screenwriter (was that it?) gave a nice, moving gay speech.</p>
<p>I have to confess I still feel uncomfortable when I see 2 men kissing. (but strangely… not when I see 2 hot young women kissing… why is that?) Is that what OP found offensive?</p>
<p>SPOILER WARNING!!! Pursuant to the theme of Gay rights and moviemaking, nobody has commented on Viola Davis’s scenes in ‘Doubt.’ I thought her character’s “explanation” to Sister Aloyisus (Streep) regarding the son was powerfull and poignant.</p>
<p>I was glad to see Sean Penn win. He and Meryl Streep both seem to be real “actors” instead of just playing themselves every time.</p>
<p>I am also proud of Sean that he’s hung in there. As a young man, he had some “issues” that could have caused him to flame out. But he didn’t.</p>
<p>I must note, however…lots of wrinkles for 48. I guess he wouldn’t look so wrinkly if he wasn’t so slim. Gosh…is that what a 48 year old actor looks like with no surgery or Botox?</p>
<p>(OT, but Kate Winslett has crows feet at the age of 33. If I were here, *I *would do something about that…makes her look older than she is. Aren’t I the hypocrite?)</p>
<p>"I must note, however…lots of wrinkles for 48. I guess he wouldn’t look so wrinkly if he wasn’t so slim. Gosh…is that what a 48 year old actor looks like with no surgery or Botox?</p>
<p>(OT, but Kate Winslett has crows feet at the age of 33. "</p>
<p>My understanding is that virtually all actors lie about their age, claiming to be younger than they are.</p>
<p>Winslett look 40 to me. I have friends who are 35-40 who look much younger than she is. This includes a friend who is 37 who got carded the other night.</p>
<p>He totally endeared himself to me when he pulled out his reading glasses!</p>
<p>Dating myself here, but does anyone remember Tom Hanks’ acceptance speech the year he won for Philadelphia? Made me cry (as does the film, every time.)</p>
<p>Kate is 33. The daughter of a friend went to school with her in the 80’s in Berkshire. I suppose some actors might lie about their age but I’m not sure why that would be necessary, or even possible, these days. </p>
<p>dbwes, Tom Hanks’ acceptance speech is probably one of the best ever delivered.</p>
<p>Northstarmom,
I did not call anybody here any names. We are not discussing me here. Penn’s affiliations with Chavez and the likes are DISGUSTING, and I can repeat it many times over. It has nothing to od with what you think about me.</p>
<p>I think it’s nice that a 33 year old actor can have crowsfeet and not find a need to hide them. Also liked Penn pulling out the reading glasses.</p>
<p>I thought his speech suited his movie.</p>
<p>Overall, I thought this was one of the more watchable recent Oscars–didn’t know much about Hugh Jackman but thought he was really entertaining, and am a huge fan of Slumdog Millionaire, so loved watching it win big.</p>
<p>It’s known to be effective and disarming. It’s the same gesture that George Washington used when addressing his officers who were threatening rebellion. They went from anger to tears almost immediately when they saw their old commander admit weakness by putting on his reading glasses in front of them.</p>
<p>" did not call anybody here any names. We are not discussing me here. Penn’s affiliations with Chavez and the likes are DISGUSTING, and I can repeat it many times over. It has nothing to od with what you think about me."</p>
<p>I didn’t call you or anyone else disgusting either. I said that a person’s opinion was disgusting.</p>
<p>“Watching the film, you totally forgot it was Penn.”</p>
<p>That was the magic of the role for me. I’ve always found Penn pompous and self-important in real life. But he just melted away into that character; you didn’t see one tiny whisper of Sean. It was one of the great performances I have ever seen.</p>
I suppose some actors might lie about their age but I’m not sure why that would be necessary, or even possible, these days. </p>