Moonlight's Speech that never was

Moonlight’s best picture win is historic. It’s the first gay themed film to win the big award. Also the first one to win with an all black cast (more trivia here). However its big moment of course was stolen by the big debacle that was the best picture presentation.

Let’s shine a light back on Moonlight and its director Barry Jenkins. Here is the speech he would’ve given, had the presentation went as planned...

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La La Moonlight, an Unexpected Finale to Oscar Night

My head is still spinning. As I cleaned up after the Oscar party, I imagined an Oliver Stone like JFK treatment of the 89th Academy Awards finale. We need evidence and diagrams, I thought to myself while filling up the recycling bag with empty bottles.  People might argue and theorize about this forever and make themseleves conspiracy theorists in the process. What was it, exactly, that happened?

First there was Warren Beatty's excruciating pause when he opened the envelope, a look of disbelief or was it confusion or 'how about that?' smirking. Inscrutable really...

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Pictures from the Oscar Luncheon

by Murtada

The question on a lot of people’s minds after the SAG Awards is how political are the Oscars going to be. If there was any doubt in anyone’s mind, Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs put that to rest. Addressing those gathered for the traditional luncheon, she alluded to the banned Muslim nominees, Asghar Farhadi and others, by pointing to the empty chairs:

Today we celebrate you. Your work and your achievements, but everyone knows there are some empty chairs in this room which has made Academy artists, activists. There is a struggle globally today over artistic freedom that feels more urgent than at anytime since the 1950s. Art has no borders. Art has no language and doesn’t belong to a single faith. No, the power of art is that it transcends all these things. And strong societies don’t censor art. They celebrate it.

By calling the nominees “activists”, Boone Isaacs is sanctioning political speeches at the ceremony which could make for an interesting show. Still the mood was not somber at the luncheon, and many nominees took the time to socialize. Isabelle Huppert and Michelle Williams caught up at the cocktail hour. Others did that even while taking their places for the annual class photo. More favorite moments after the jump.

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One Last Day of Golden Globe Goofing - Four Questions

Perhaps in an effort to stave off worries about the impending T****ocalyspe, I've been doing a whole lot of pretending it's still last Sunday night in my head to relive the joys of the most consistent part of life that's not as depressing as taxes and death: awards shows!

So I did a quick poll of Team Experience to get one last rush of feelings out about the Golden Globes before we're on to Oscar nominations (Jan 24th) and SAG Awards (Jan 29th). Four happy questions after the jump. You should answer them, too. More being merrier, etcetera...

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Murtada gives thanks

Hi, it’s Murtada. Despite “the world being in such turmoil”, I will take inspiration from my favorite awards speeches from actresses and get on with the job at hand. After setting up a monthly donation to the ACLU, and signing up to volunteer helping new immigrants, I’m ready with my “happy movie face”. First I will thank The Film Experience because when you leave it to the end, they play them “off with the music” or put them after the jump.

I'm thankful for….

- The Film Experience, its kind ringleader Nathaniel, its fantastic writers, its engaged readers and frequent commenters, a community, a breathing space, a respite.

And because “the world is round, people” let’s appreciate some amazing women for what they gave us this year, and while we're at it let's throw in “a few for the men as well”.

- the great big fuck you and “truth telling” Octavia Spencer gives to racists everywhere in Hidden Figures, for her warm, funny and compassionate performance.

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