Oh my God. This was, um, this was not an easy film to make. First off, I have to thank Cleve Jones and Anne Kronenberg and all the real-life people who shared their stories with me. And, um, Gus Van Sant, Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, James Franco and our entire cast, my producers Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, everyone at Groundswell and Focus for taking on the challenge of telling this life-saving story.
When I was 13 years old, my beautiful mother and my father moved me from a conservative Mormon home in San Antonio, Texas to California, and I heard the story of Harvey Milk. And it gave me hope. It gave me the hope to live my life. It gave me the hope one day I could live my life openly as who I am and then maybe even I could even fall in love and one day get married.
I wanna thank my mom, who has always loved me for who I am even when there was pressure not to. But most of all, if Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he'd want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches, by the government or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights federally, across this great nation of ours. Thank you. Thank you. And thank you, God, for giving us Harvey Milk.
--Dustin Lance Black
Thank you. Thank you. You commie, homo-loving sons-of-guns. I did not expect this, but I, and I want it to be very clear, that I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me often. But I am touched by the appreciation and I hoped for it enough that I did want to scribble down, so I had the names in case you were commie, homo-loving sons-of-guns, and so I want to thank my best friend, Sata Matsuzawa. My circle of long-time support, Mara, Brian, Barry and Bob. The great Cleve Jones. Our wonderful writer, Lance Black. Producers Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks.
And particularly, as all, as actors know, our director either has the patience, talent and restraint to grant us a voice or they don't, and it goes from the beginning of the meeting, through the cutting room. And there is no finer hands to be in than Gus Van Sant. And finally, for those, two last finallies, for those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that way of support.
We've got to have equal rights for everyone. And there are, and there are, these last two things. I'm very, very proud to live in a country that is willing to elect an elegant man president and a country who, for all its toughness, creates courageous artists. And this is in great due respect to all the nominees, but courageous artists, who despite a sensitivity that sometimes has brought enormous challenge, Mickey Rourke rises again and he is my brother. Thank you all very much.
--Sean Penn
Do a Holocaust movie, get an Oscar. Words of wisdom, Ricky Gervais.
Ben Stiller as Joaquin Phoenix was amazing. I couldn't even tell who it was under that giant beard until he turned to the side and I recognised his profile.
I almost cried during Dustin Lance Black and Sean Penn's speeches, ngl. I'd say I was surprised that Westboro Baptist Church protested, but they've gone so far that they can't be shocking anymore.
As much as I love Paul Newman, etc., the In Memoriam thing took so long that I thought M.I.A. was going to recover enough to show up.
The dance routine to Jai Ho was so epic until John Legend came along. No surprises with Slumdog Millionaire--the little kids were way too adorable, and everyone involved obviously took great pride in their work. Dev Patel, let's get married.
THIS IS THE SKIN OF A KILLER. Our friend RPattz was clearly getting a headstart on looking like a tortured stalker.
Not that Hugh Jackman was bad, but it would have been nice if someone like Tina Fey had hosted. I think that these sorts of things generally go over better if a comedian hosts.
Dominic Cooper was lookin' fly (as were many other people), too bad Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens had to be involved in that musical extravaganza. I am so excited for An Education. The previews made me even more pumped for 500 Days Of Summer, too--Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel are way too cute.
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