In celebration of his historic Oscar win, Godzilla has returned to the Film Experience to give his acceptance speech...
Thanks to Nathaniel for letting me come back to say a few words, and to Cláudio for interviewing me in the first place. Sugar Cube’s great company. As you might have guessed, I wasn’t really able to attend the Oscars in person to support Godzilla Minus One - too big to fit in the Dolby. I have a few prepared statements I wanted to read...
First of all, FUCK YEAH!!! I’m so fuckin’ proud. To Kiyoko, Masaki, Tatsuji, and our brilliant director Takashi, I am awed by what y’all achieved with Minus One and am thrilled to have been part of this phenomenal film. To our cast and crew, thank you for bringing so much of yourselves to this project. Thank you to Toho Films for believing in Minus One, and for believing in my talent and my message for seventy years. Who knew we’d still be this fresh and look this good after all this time?
To everyone who voted for us: Thank you, from the bottom of my atomic heart. The reception we’ve gotten across the globe continues to awe me. I know what my films have meant and continue to mean for millions of folks. Whether they’re monster movie fans, committed cinephiles, stoners, environmentalists. This award is for Minus One, but it’s also for the storied history the Godzilla film series represents. It’s for Ishiro Honda, Haruo Nakajima, Katsumi Tezuka, Akira Ifukube, and Eiji Tsuburaya, who literally made me the beast I am today. An award as big as the Oscars is so rarely just about the film being recognized, especially when that recognition is loaded with decades prior of being ignored and undervalued for the contributions your art has provided. I’m talking about myself, of course, but I’m also talking about Lily and Robbie and Scott. Superstars, all of ya.
To everyone who didn’t vote for us: BWAHAHAHA!!!! AHHHAHAHAHA!! Oh my god. Whew! I’m sorry, I’m sorry, lemme catch my breath. Fuckin’ LOSERS!
That’s about the long and short of it. While I’m here, I'm gonna say a few more things before I head back home to Junior. They really loved the "I'm Just Ken" performance, and they wanted me to share that in case Ryan ends up reading this. To all the first time winners, keep this joy and this validation with ya. Winning an Oscar’s a big deal, but making it last takes a lotta work, and y’all deserve to see that remit on your careers. Da'Vine was right to thank her publicist! And to everyone who has used their platform this season to speak about the ongoing occupation and genocide happening in Gaza, y’all are speaking truth to power the way art and artists are meant to do. Thank you all. See ya next year!