Al Pacino said he was following instructions from Oscar producers in not naming the other Best Picture nominees while announcing Oppenheimer as the winner of the show’s biggest category.
The Oscar actor was the final presenter Sunday night, announcing Oppenheimer as the Best Picture winner without revealing the names of all the nominees, as is tradition.
“To be clear, it was not my intention to omit these words, but rather the producer’s choice not to have them said again, as they were emphasized individually throughout the ceremony,” Pacino said in a statement Monday afternoon. It was,” he said. “I was honored to be a part of that night and decided to go along with how they wanted this award to be presented.
“I recognize that being nominated is a huge milestone in life, and that not being fully recognized is unpleasant and hurtful. I speak to this as someone who is deeply involved with filmmakers, actors, and producers. So I empathize deeply with those who are being disrespected by this oversight, and that’s why I felt it necessary to make this statement.”
Pacino has been nominated nine times for acting, winning the Best Actor Oscar in 1992 for Scent of a Woman.
The 10 films nominated include American Fiction, Anatomy of a Fall, Barbie, The Holdovers, Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro, Oppenheimer, Past Lives, Poor Things, and Zone of Interest) all had separate montages shown during the awards ceremony.
However, Pacino’s sudden announcement of the winner, “And the Oscar…I see Oppenheimer,” confused many in the audience and confused viewers at home.
The Best Picture award was not the only one where readings of nominated works were omitted. All nominated original songs were performed during the show, with What Was I Made For? Created without listing again everything Barbie has earned.
Oscar producer Molly McNerney told trade publication Variety that the omission of readings from Best Picture nominees was intentional.
“This was a creative decision because I was very worried that the show would be too long,” she said. “By the time you get to the end of the show, you’ve seen all the best 10 picture clip packages. People just want to know who’s going to win, and they’re pretty prepared for the show to end. At least that’s it. It’s what we expected.
“If you decide you don’t need to read all of these candidates, I apologize.” [Pacino] We are in a difficult situation. ”
McNerney said Pacino’s decision not to use the traditional phrase, “And Oscar…” made things “a little confusing,” but added, “But listen, that’s the excitement of live TV.” added. You never know if you’ll get it right. ”
After the awards ceremony, host Jimmy Kimmel said of Pacino’s presentation style: Every American seems to know the rhythm leading up to “And Oscar…” but not Al Pacino. God bless him. “
After the Oscar ceremony, Pacino announced that his memoir, Sonny Boy, would be published in October. Years in the making, the long-awaited book chronicles the 83-year-old actor’s childhood in New York, his upbringing with a “fiercely loving but mentally ill mother and her parents,” and his young friends in the South Bronx. and during his time at New York’s famous Performing Arts High School.
He later starred in New York’s avant-garde theater scene in the 1960s and 70s before breaking out in films with Panic in Needle Park, The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, and Serpico Afternoon. We will feature the works of
