Hollywood Artists Use Oscars to Decry US War on Iraq |
Iraq has "invaded" the glitzy portals of Hollywood, dividing stars over the Last night was Oscar NightUnited States-led war. Protests on the streets of several US cities found their way into the Oscars award ceremony Sunday night with stars airing their anger against the war.
Well-known US filmmaker Michael Moore used his award-acceptance speech to launch a violent attack on US President George W. Bush and the war in Iraq. "We live in fictitious times," he said picking up the award for best documentary for his anti-gun film "Bowling for Columbine."
"We live in a time with fictitious election results that elect fictitious presidents," he said referring to Bush's 2000 election victory. "We live in a time when we have a man sending us to war for fictitious reasons. We are against this war Mr Bush. Shame on you. Shame on you!," he said undeterred by the loud boos from a section of the 3,500-strong audience which included several top stars.
Backstage at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre talking to reporters, Moore rejected Bush's claims that a threat to the US from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was imminent. The reality, he said "is that we're over there because they have the second-largest supply of oil in the world. He (Bush) almost said it the other night when he said, 'Now don't burn those oil fields."
Moore was unapologetic for his outburst. Moore said he believed deeply that the war was wrong and pointed to the violence that exists within US society. "We (Americans) kill each other at an enormous rate, more so than virtually any other country on this planet," he said referring to the theme he depicted in "Columbine," the title of which was taken from a 1999 slaughter of 13 people in a gun rampage at Colorado's Columbine high school.
"What was the lesson that we taught the children of Columbine this week?" he asked. "This was the lesson, that violence is an acceptable means to resolve conflict."
Stars such as Barbara Streisand, backing Moore, publicly defended the right of all Americans to speak out freely on any subject. However Streisand, an anti-war campaigner along with Susan Sarandon and Richard Gere who share similar sentiments, did not indicate their feelings on stage.
But Adrien Brody, while overcome with joy at his surprise best actor win for the holocaust drama "The Pianist", said he was also filled with sadness and could not control his tears. "My experience in making this film made me very aware of the sadness and the dehumanization of people at times of war and the repercussions of war. Whether you believe in God or Allah, may he watch over you and let's pray for a peaceful and swift resolution," Brody said to warm applause.
Frank Pierson, the president of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences told the audience, "To all of our men and women overseas, God speed and let's get you home soon. To the Iraqi people, I say, let's have peace soon and let you live without war."
Writer Pedro Almodovar holds up his Oscar Spanish director Pedro Almodovar said backstage that he was appalled by the US-led conflict and his country's role in supporting it. "I am very ashamed and I want everyone to know that 90 percent of Spaniards are against (Prime Minster Jose Maria) Aznar giving his help to Bush."
Chris Cooper became the first celebrity to speak up for peace at the ceremony when he won the best supporting actor Oscar for his gritty role as a horticulturalist in the dark comedy "Adaptation." And Oscar presenter, Gael Garcia Bernal, who starred in the nominated "Frida," broke the Oscars' cardinal rule by diverging from his script and strongly speaking out against the war.
The anger at the war against Iraq and use of the Oscars platform to make a statement condemning it is in line with a long history of Hollywood stars who have availed the occasion to speak out for a cause.
In 1977, Vanessa Redgrave made a statement in support of the Palestinian cause upon receiving an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in the film "Julia." Redgrave also complained of "Zionist hooligans" who protested her presence.
In 1993 star Susan Sarandon and her husband actor Tim Robbins as they were to deliver an Oscar award, called on the US government to release a group of Haitian refugees held at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The same year, actor Richard Gere condemned China's policies in Tibet. He then accused the then leader Deng Xiaoping of "horrible" human rights abuses.
Hollywood stars in the past have had to pay for their anti-establishment views. During the height of the Cold war, in the McCarthy era, the US government prepared a blacklist that was used to harass artistes like Paul Robeson, Ring Lardner, Elia Kazan and Zero Mostel.
Al Jazeera
Well-known US filmmaker Michael Moore used his award-acceptance speech to launch a violent attack on US President George W. Bush and the war in Iraq. "We live in fictitious times," he said picking up the award for best documentary for his anti-gun film "Bowling for Columbine."
"We live in a time with fictitious election results that elect fictitious presidents," he said referring to Bush's 2000 election victory. "We live in a time when we have a man sending us to war for fictitious reasons. We are against this war Mr Bush. Shame on you. Shame on you!," he said undeterred by the loud boos from a section of the 3,500-strong audience which included several top stars.
Backstage at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre talking to reporters, Moore rejected Bush's claims that a threat to the US from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was imminent. The reality, he said "is that we're over there because they have the second-largest supply of oil in the world. He (Bush) almost said it the other night when he said, 'Now don't burn those oil fields."
Moore was unapologetic for his outburst. Moore said he believed deeply that the war was wrong and pointed to the violence that exists within US society. "We (Americans) kill each other at an enormous rate, more so than virtually any other country on this planet," he said referring to the theme he depicted in "Columbine," the title of which was taken from a 1999 slaughter of 13 people in a gun rampage at Colorado's Columbine high school.
"What was the lesson that we taught the children of Columbine this week?" he asked. "This was the lesson, that violence is an acceptable means to resolve conflict."
Stars such as Barbara Streisand, backing Moore, publicly defended the right of all Americans to speak out freely on any subject. However Streisand, an anti-war campaigner along with Susan Sarandon and Richard Gere who share similar sentiments, did not indicate their feelings on stage.
But Adrien Brody, while overcome with joy at his surprise best actor win for the holocaust drama "The Pianist", said he was also filled with sadness and could not control his tears. "My experience in making this film made me very aware of the sadness and the dehumanization of people at times of war and the repercussions of war. Whether you believe in God or Allah, may he watch over you and let's pray for a peaceful and swift resolution," Brody said to warm applause.
Frank Pierson, the president of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences told the audience, "To all of our men and women overseas, God speed and let's get you home soon. To the Iraqi people, I say, let's have peace soon and let you live without war."
Writer Pedro Almodovar holds up his Oscar Spanish director Pedro Almodovar said backstage that he was appalled by the US-led conflict and his country's role in supporting it. "I am very ashamed and I want everyone to know that 90 percent of Spaniards are against (Prime Minster Jose Maria) Aznar giving his help to Bush."
Chris Cooper became the first celebrity to speak up for peace at the ceremony when he won the best supporting actor Oscar for his gritty role as a horticulturalist in the dark comedy "Adaptation." And Oscar presenter, Gael Garcia Bernal, who starred in the nominated "Frida," broke the Oscars' cardinal rule by diverging from his script and strongly speaking out against the war.
The anger at the war against Iraq and use of the Oscars platform to make a statement condemning it is in line with a long history of Hollywood stars who have availed the occasion to speak out for a cause.
In 1977, Vanessa Redgrave made a statement in support of the Palestinian cause upon receiving an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in the film "Julia." Redgrave also complained of "Zionist hooligans" who protested her presence.
In 1993 star Susan Sarandon and her husband actor Tim Robbins as they were to deliver an Oscar award, called on the US government to release a group of Haitian refugees held at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The same year, actor Richard Gere condemned China's policies in Tibet. He then accused the then leader Deng Xiaoping of "horrible" human rights abuses.
Hollywood stars in the past have had to pay for their anti-establishment views. During the height of the Cold war, in the McCarthy era, the US government prepared a blacklist that was used to harass artistes like Paul Robeson, Ring Lardner, Elia Kazan and Zero Mostel.
Al Jazeera