The Film Experience

by Murtada

Welcome back to The Oscar Week, where we follow Oscar contender appearances and interviews and examine how they impact their chances. After a 2 week hiatus, all the contenders were back in full campaign mode on both coasts, cramming in as many events as they could before the Golden Globes. Even hitherto missing person, Sally Hawkins, made an appearance at the Palm Springs Film Festival and at the AFI Luncheon.

However the week, the moment, maybe even the year belonged to Tiffany Haddish. She took the New York Film Critics Circle awards dinner by storm, delivering an 18 minute epic speech. Here are a few excerpts:

First she poked fun at the critics honoring her:

I’m learning a lot about you guys. All the critics I’ve ever known before this was Siskel and Ebert. And then when they passed, I was like, Oh, well. Who’s the new movie critic TV show? Is there one? Get it together, y’all. You should have a TV show so we know who you guys are.

But also thanked them for seeing her:

You care enough to say something. If you didn’t say nothing, then you didn’t care. So if you said something, thank you. I don’t care if it’s positive or negative. I appreciate you. I’m glad you see me. Cause there were so many years nobody saw me.

She wants to pay it forward for the next generation:

There are so many people like me that you guys have no clue about. But they coming, ’cause I kicked the fucking door open.

And didn't forget to mention her improvised bit that was cut off from Girls’ Trip:

There’s a scene where I’m telling Regina [Hall] all of the things I’m gonna do for her. I’ve got her back. ‘And then when he asleep, we’re gonna burn your name in his dick. Then we’re gonna put mud and salt on it so it will keloid over. And then it will be ribbed for your pleasure. And then when he woke up, we’ll look him dead in his eyes. And we’ll tell him right to his face, to keep your name out of these bitches’ mouths.’ And they took that out of the movie, but I like to tell everybody about it, because these are the things I think about at night sometimes. Don’t hurt my feelings, Michael B. Jordan.

You can see the whole speech here. And that wasn’t all for Haddish. Paul Thomas Anderson dedicated his acceptance speech to her. While he didn’t make it to the event, his proxy and Phantom Thread star Lesley Manville publicly read out his phone number to Haddish, asking her to call him so that they can work together soon. Best Actor winner Timothee Chalamet started his acceptance with a joke aimed directly at Haddish:

Tiffany, you know grapefruits very well — I know peaches.

If speeches really get people nominated, as many claimed after Meryl Streep’s at the Globes last year, this should seal the deal for Haddish. Remember when Marion Cotillard (Two Days One Night), only won at NYFCC before her surprise Oscar nomination? And she didn’t even give as legendary a speech.

Another on the bubble contender who had a good week is Jessica Chastain. Molly Game's is doing very well with the guilds, having scored nominations from Writers Guild, Producers Guild and from the Editors. Chastain, who is one of the activists behind the Time's Up campaign, was honored at the Palm Springs Film Festival and seized the moment to talk about how she has hope for the future despite the ugly sexual harrasment revelations that are rocking Hollywood:

I want to acknowledge what a difficult year 2017 has been for all of us. Major change is coming. Change is good. Change is needed. Through a joint effort we will make things better. We must be better. And we will.

With this week's momentum for Molly's Game, do you think Chastain can crash best actress? And are you as convinced as I am that Haddish will be nominated?