In light of recent events, viewers were expecting this year’s Oscars acceptance speeches to not only feature the requisite thank you’s and emotion, but to also make mention of the political climate and the issues that are currently rocking Hollywood. While there maybe wasn’t an Oprah-like speech, that almost felt like a movement-in-the-making, there were plenty of inspiring words that very well might bring a tear to your eye.
Perhaps the most memorable moment is none other than “Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri” Best Actress winner Frances McDormand’s speech about representation. While snubbing host Jimmy Kimmel’s offer of a jet ski (more on that later), McDormand decided to give all female nominees a moment to stand and be recognized. It was a moving sight to see, and she took that moment to encourage studios to take more meetings, instead of empty congratulations.
She ended her speech by saying, “I have two words to leave with you tonight, ladies and gentlemen: inclusion rider.”
READ MORE: The Full List Of 2018 Oscar Winners
Other winners included Sam Rockwell and Allison Janney, from ‘Three Billboards’ and “I, Tonya,” respectively, for their Supporting Actor/Actress wins. Both gave fun, short speeches. Rockwell talked his love of movies, while ending with a special dedication to Philip Seymour Hoffman. Janney started her speech by jokingly forgoing the thank you’s, and said, “I did it all by myself.”
However, it wasn’t all actors stealing the spotlight. Best Director winner Guillermo Del Toro, from the eventual Best Picture winner “The Shape of Water,” had an emotional acceptance speech, as he discussed his love of movies and the doubt he had that his career would even happen because of growing up in Mexico. Del Toro spent a majority of his speech attempting to inspire a new generation of filmmakers, from all around the world.
“The greatest thing that our art does and our industry does is erase the line in the sand,” Del Toro said. “We should continue doing that, when the world tells us to make it deeper.”
But really the theme that came up in the most speeches was about a jet ski. Host Jimmy Kimmel opened the show offering a new jet ski and a trip to Lake Havasu, to use said jet ski, to the winner with the shortest acceptance speech. “The Phantom Thread’s” Mark Bridges won Best Costume Design, and gave a short, but sweet speech that clocked in at a tidy 37 seconds. That was the shortest speech of the night and ensured he’d walk home with not only Oscar, but also a new jet ski.
Sure, the Oscar is great and all, but have you ever ridden a jet ski on a lake? It’s pretty great!
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