Renee Zellweger is back... with a singular and weird Globes speech
Monday, January 6, 2020 at 3:06PM 
Usually actors try to find the perfect balance of sincere, hilarious and warm when delivering an acceptance speech. It’s a plus if they can marry something personal to them with something meaningful to a room full of their colleagues and to the audience at home. It’s very rare that someone takes the stage and proceeds to be confrontational, but that’s exactly what Renée Zellweger did Sunday night while accepting the trophy for best performance by an actress in a drama...
She starts with a bit of self doubt “wow I’m really up here,” then proceeds to remind the audience that it’s been a while since she’s been invited to one of these events “Y’all look pretty good seventeen years later.” And that it might have been their fault for ignoring her and her work all this time "thank you for welcoming me back to the family reunion.”
Zellweger was not going to let things go unmentioned, certainly not the years she was ignored.
It's a weird choice and the speech proceeds to get weirder with her qualifying why she’s starting with mentioning her agents and managers. Though she doesn’t forget to mention her fellow nominees in general and her collaborators on Judy by name, it’s a rambling speech with no structure or message. Not the kind that seals an Oscar win.
Only when she gets to pay tribute to Judy Garland does her speech cohere:
"The conversations that I have had with people internationally, they just want to express their love of Judy Garland and tell [me] about the great personal significance of her legacy. Her humanity has been a great reminder that the choices we make matter. What we make matters, and how we choose to honor each other in our lifetimes can matter a great deal down the road."
On social media people were perplexed by her accent, that Texas drawl she drifted in and out of. People have begun speculating if this speech might affect her chances at the Oscars, even though no one questioned Joaquin Phoenix's equally eccentric speech.
Zellweger has always been peculiar and that didn't stop her the last time she won every televised award, and it won’t stop her this year. Who’s going to step in for the win should she falter? Charlize Theron was mentioned earlier in the season as strong competition but has faded with her film’s lackluster box office and reviews. Scarlett Johansson doesn't seem to want it badly enough as her campaign has been quiet and no one appears to be in a rush to award her yet. Saoirse Ronan’s film is cresting at the right moment for her to possibly get nominated, but win? It might be too late for that and she’s someone, like Kate Winslet, who they are comfortable nominating many times before they finally win. I wish that Alfre Woodard had a real chance at the win as she gives without question, in my opinion, the best performance of the year.
I liked Zellweger’s speech. It was totally her; singular and a bit odd. I hope we get to see a few more curious speeches. What did you think?
Reader Comments (71)
She was ignored for years because she wasn't making (good) movies! I don't think the "woe is me" campaign will sit well.
I thought Joaquin's speech was equally ridiculous, for different reasons.
Zelwegger's speech was odd. But a lot of the criticism I've heard about it stems from the fact that we expect women generally, but actresses specifically, to be really appreciative and sweet when they're honored.
I will say, though, that I do think it hurt her shaky Oscar chances. There was some good in her speech - especially when it came to the work mattering, not being a star, and her comments about Garland. But, it wasn't the type of speech that was likely to make voters say, "man I want her to win." However, her work is really strong, and that may be enough.
"NOT the kind that seals an Oscar win."
Oh, you mean like Glenn Close's note-perfect speech at last year's Golden Globes? If any speech was capable of sealing up a Best Actress win, that one would have.
Conversely, if giving rambling and unprepared speeches was disqualifying, Colman wouldn't have won. She's a great actres
So what evidence keeps this theory alive, exactly?
I liked it. I liked the acknowledgment of what has happened to her.
I think a huge part of her extraordinary work in Judy is down to her having experienced times not dissimilar to those Judy did towards the end of her life.
Saoirse would be my choice but I’ll be happy for Renée.
I felt the confrontation in the speech too. I mean, she’s made a lot of shitty films so what did she expect???
We’ll see what SAG does but my head is swimming that the first actress to win 3 SAGs for individual acting film roles would be Renee Zellweger of all people? That will be absolutely head scratching.
She already has an Oscar. Why is Hollywood falling over themselves to give her another? I guess it really is a lack of competition, or rather a lack of narrative for competitors. Maybe if Lupita hadn’t already won she’d have a much better narrative. Although given what a critical darling she has been this year I’m surprised we haven’t heard much of a “let’s finally give a second black actress a lead Oscar”.
LUPITA
LUPITA
LUPITA
Her JUDY PERFORMANCE was AMAZING :)
This speech was Renee through and through. Yes, it was a bit rambling, but it made sense and it came across as really sincere. I think this article is a bit misplaced and misguided.
To me it was meh, not particularly good. But it wasn't flat out grating or graceless. Just a bit self-involved, but that's Zellweger for you. For me, Michelle Williams gave the speech of the night, she was a tough act to beat!
It is funny but I was more bothered by Phoenix's rambling and cussing than her speech. It seems we hold women and men to different standards?
I think Renee is just fine - there remains no obvious alternative to her for Oscar night.
Hers is the speech from last night's Globes that I've (re)watched the most. I actually zeroed in on the "thank you for always reminding me that the top doesn't matter; it's the journey that matters" part. It seemed a little wistful without sounding maudlin. On another note, she looked fantastic, sinewy and strong, which must feel good after the years of backbiting and bullshit she had to endure from society at large. Could we sense a bit of self-satisfaction in her "confrontational" tone? I'd say so.
I loved Renée’s speech! I thought it was gangster, and if Mary Kay Place and Alfre Woodard don’t stand a chance, I’m all in for a Zell sweep.
I especially enjoy how insanely jealous Nicole Kidman must be (YEARS after her last Globe and Oscar wins for film), especially after she so rudely crashed Laura Dern’s red carpet interview.
I went running on the beach this morning in homage to Renée in WHITE OLEANDER.
What a strange speech. Smug, endless, self-congratulatory, and boring all at the same time. Also, why does she all of a sudden have a lisp now?! Looking back at her past award speeches like her Oscar speech for Cold Mountain, she had no lisp whatsoever. I can see voters turning away and voting for Charlize and Scarlett after this bizarre speech.
Please let me not suffer her again this awards season.
The Oscars are a month away. She’s not going to be stopped.
I find it depressing that people make their decisions on Golden Globe acceptance speeches rather than evaluating the performance itself.
I just don't get why this happens to some people when they are rewarded and not others,the internet turned on Kate in 2008 then Anne in 2012 and although they both had shaky moments awards wise both won.
Renee seems so uncomfy up there,she was obviously very hurt by that backlash years ago,she just made a few less than stellar choices,males do it and females all the time,some get patted on the back with a welcome back others receive harsher words of criticism.
Her speech scared me.
Colman did give a great speech last year. Yes, it was rambling, but she was charming and fun in that way so many famous British people can be when they are unprepared and a little bit tipsy!
Glenn gave a great speech as well. She was incredibly moving. Both benefitted from the Globes, I think.
I don't get why there are still those who say her Oscar chances are shaky. Everything seems lined up for her to win, from the fact that she's been out of the limelight for several years (yes, she never stopped making movies, but she wasn't getting the roles that she was getting in the early aughts), the fact that the role she's playing somehow mirrors some of what she's going through and, here's the big one, she's playing Judy Garland (and getting great reviews for that)!!! If it's true that Phoenix, Pitt and Dern are pretty much set in the other three categories (all of whom play fictional characters), how can they resist honoring an actor who plays a real-life icon, not to mention a Hollywood icon (years in which all four acting winners play fictional characters are rare, it's only happened twice in my lifetime)?
I thought her speech was fine and since I got the chance to interview her in Toronto earlier this year (I think she was wearing the same dress that day, or at least a similar shade of blue), this was more or less what I was expecting (and good for her for deciding to use her Texas accent).
I wish I could post an Elisabeth Moss gif from Her Smell here in the comments because that's all that needs to be said about any Best Actress conversation this year
People are reading way too much into her speech.
I personally wasn't crazy about her speech as a whole (it definitely rambled), but it does press to a larger issue in our society when someone like Joaquin Phoenix is praised for his "edginess" and "anti-Hollywood" attitude in his speech (where he simultaneously cursed through half of it, said again that awards shows are meaningless and bullshit, and virtually made no sense), while Zellweger is criticized for at least having the gall to think that she earned this. We still are uncomfortable when women are not overly grateful and are unabashedly confident in the decisions they make (see also - the furor some people have with Michelle Williams's speech on Twitter). For the record, I don't think Zellweger was ungrateful at all. She graciously praised her fellow nominees, as well as her management and cast and crew that made Judy.
When you take a step back, you have to admire how ballsy Zellweger's career trajectory has been. For someone to take a SIX year break from Hollywood in your 40s (which is historically the last gasp of opportunities Hollywood actresses have a chance to work), and to come back when you're 50 and give the performance of your life - that has to be somewhat gratifying. So kudos to her.
Maybe instead of doing shitty films, she referenced her not being able to partake in good projects , as her internet reputation preceded her.
@JF, Olivia gave an amazing Globe speech last year, where she discussed how excited she was to win, how much she loved the film, and how much she loved her co-stars (aka, "my bitches"). She was so joyous, that it was hard not love her.
And, although Glenn loss, her campaign went from the "the nomination is the reward," to front of the pack, making it a Close vs. Colman race.
When the hell did she get a southern twang accent? lol
Ryan Crowe, please don't pit actresses against each other.
What's with Nicole Kidman being jealous and such? This has nothing to do with Kidman and I am sure she is fine with the accolades that she got.
Back to Renee, she is always a bit odd so this doesn't come as a surprise. I am not sure but it feels like the room is not too enthusiastic with her win? Maybe I am reading too much into it.
I still think she will win the Oscar; the competition is too weak and there is no clear alternative.
Mo'Nique is the last award season actress I remember being confrontational in her acceptance speeches.
Terrible, hostile speech from Zellweger.
She was at the end of the show ... and too much champagne can do that to one!!!???
Ditto ... Joaquin Phoenix
Glenn Close gave a speech for the ages last year and lost so I don't really pay that much attention to speeches anymore. Let's face it, Zellweger won last September when the trailer was posted. They love this kind of performance. We can fight it but we will lose every time.
Scarlett Johansson reminds of The Turner. They're superior to the rest of mortals, they know it and they just can't be bothered to conceal it. I love them both.
I didn't hear her speech that way that all--it was fascinating to hear how she's perceived being away for that long. But now that this campaign season is slowly morphing into the lockerroom scene in "Carrie," I think I'll throw my support behind her winning a second Oscar. I totally didn't read the temp on this potential nomination and I'm puzzled about why it's going down like this.
I saw Judy. Renee was ok as Garland. Oustanding in some moments of the singing part and that's all.
Mary Kay Place was my favorite performance of last year. I would.love to see her nominated. But, this is not going to happen.
If not Renee, Saiorse for the win! Charlize deserves better for Young Adult, Max Max Fury Road, Atomic Blonde and Tully.
Go Saoirse and Scarlett!
Exactly. She got super lucky. In a more competitive year I'd think she'd have to settle for a 'Welcome Back' nomination. There's just no (realistic) alternatives.
You can't fault her for being herself - always a little whiny, a little rambling, somewhat self-involved. At least she keeps it real and shows some respect for her industry and peers unlike Phoenix who is anything but, judging from his speech.
Renee will win like Meryl in Iron Lady - good performance in a shitty movie and it's always going to be divisive. And talking about Meryl, I'm relieved she lost in her category. Her role in BLL S2 was nothing to scream about (pun intended).
The speech seemed fine to me- she thanked everyone, honored Garland- I don't see anything weird about it- the Oscar crowd prefers a more emotional speech but she so great in the part I don't see how they can ignore her.
Her speech was odd but her performance was amazing. I think she'll still win Oscar. And her dress was gorgeous. She looked great!
RENEE ALL THE WAY!
I just don't understand Neon's non-campaign for Clemency. Alfre Woodard should be this year's Frances McDormand.
@ Ry
With this year's performances from Nyong'o, Ronan, Woodard, Place and Moss alone able to fill any Best Actress shortlist, how could this year be more competitive? (Note that I omitted another five: Awkwafina, ScarJo, Erivo, Theron and Zellweger herself.)
agreed Renee's speech wasn't perfect, but i don't think it's meant to be confrontational. i think she is a genuinely shy and awkward person, and she's been out of the scene (by her own choice) for a decade, and doesn't have the social skills to come back with panache. she just doesn't know how to play the game.
i think there's nobody to stop her and it's a nuanced, incredibly detailed performance that's both full of technique yet completely in-the-moment. other actors know the work she put in and how hard it is to accomplish what she did, that balance of study and instinct. it's a worthy win, in my opinion.
“Y’all look pretty good seventeen years later.”
I though that was a message for producers. It's true she hasn't been doing good films but maybe because she wasn't offered? The film Judy itself was a guaranteed disaster and it would have been but her performance was miracle.
Drew, pitting actresses against one another is the single funnest aspect of awards season!
If I have to watch a woman win an award in for playing a drunk, disoriented mother who can barely keep her act together to perform when it really matters, I'd much rather give it to Jessie Buckley for Wild Rose.
But since that can't happen, I'm all for Lupita and/or Saoirse.
@Working stiff
I meant in terms of traditional Academy taste. There were multiple glorious performances this year (I'd personally vote for Lupita and we'll be lucky if she even gets nominated) but most of them for to 'genre', subtle or subtitled. NOTHING does for them like loud showy mimicry/biopics.
Ava Gardner regained traces of her Southern accent as she aged, too. I think Zellweger is just out of practice.
Some are defending Renee on here while simultaneously bashing Joaquin for his speech but it’s clear he suffers from anxiety, substance abuse problems, plus he’s had a hard life between losing River and growing up in a cult.
Maybe I'm innocent/ignorant but I thought she was just acknowledging the fact that she hadn't been there in 17 years. Every nominee tries to spin a 'story' and when she said that I thought, 'Ok, this is hers' - She has been out of the business for a while but she is back. She is not my favorite actress by any means, nor do I like her public persona .. and yes, she seemed awkward. She also seems to me like a nice, kind person - I didn't read it as anything shady or hostile.
Did she sabotage her Oscar (potential) win? No .. Did she secure it either? No
I rewatched that speech again and here's my theory.
I honestly believe she was - clumsily - trying to draw parallels between her own story and that of Judy Garland's and the hardships depicted in the movie, and tie it together in the end through her comments around feedback about the movie and the way people choose to honour each other in life.
Problem is, by the time she got on stage that late in the evening, she was no longer clear-headed, whether on alcohol or substances, and the tone came across as confrontational rather than the authentic tone she thought she was putting out. You can almost see it in motion: although the speech was prepared, the beginning was ill-delivered (it's as if she almost forgot a few words and chose other ones that took the message off-track) but then the exit music came on and snapped her into shape (you can see her face reaction) and she came back on script. But the damage was done.
All that being said, I don't think it hurt her chances per se. I also DO agree that Joaquin Phoenix was a mess and everyone thought it was cute and redeeming - not a quality we impart on women in the same situation.