Wednesday
Jan192011
Acceptance Speech as Campaign
Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at 10:02PM 
My weekly Oscar article is up at Tribeca Film wherein I'm discussing the value of acceptance speeches to Oscar campaigns. F'rinstance, after Christian Bale's two speeches last weekend at the BFCA & Globes ♫ how you like him now?
Whose acceptance speech do you think did them the most good so far with voters?
tagged BFCA, Christian Bale, Golden Globes, Oscars (10), Tribeca Film
BFCA, Christian Bale, Golden Globes, Oscars (10), Tribeca Film
Reader Comments (16)
I still don’t. But I will admit he has a better personality than Walhberg. Something about his energy screams he hasn’t lost the thug in him.
Nathaniel, when are you going start posting all of your film bitch awards?
I love Christian Bale, with the whole 'yelling on the set' incident well and truly behind him, he has kind of changed his whole persona with all of these honest, modest speeches. I see another Oscar (after this year) for him in the future. I approve.
I have to say that Anette's speech at the Globes didn't help at all, I can't even remember what she said except for that last bit about Warren. Natalie on the other hand had the whole sweet lips thing, and the "he does want to sleep with me!", pretty memorable I would say, not that she needs any more help in that department.
^ I also remembered her awkward laugh hahah. She's cute. I like her better not pregnant and single for some reason, though.
I definitely think Melissa Leo's speeches have done her the best. It made it clear that she's a hardworking actress who's finally getting deserved recognition. Her speeches will resonate with voters, especially the acting branch, who are not all superstars but hard workers just like Leo.
Plus, I never knew Leo was so amazingly hilarious. Her likability will also help her.
Unfortunately, I think that Natalie's 'woe-is-me, blink-blink, hahahahaha, I-trained-so-hard, some more eye-blinking, I'm-pregnant-by-the-way and oh-the training-was-sooooo-excruciating, poor-little-innocent-me' shtick did the most for the voters. Can you tell I didn't like it? ;-)
Ms Portman's is more sufferable when she's NOT nominated for an Oscar, it has little to do with her pregnancy or relationship status, it's the gold that's blinding her. Jut my opinion.
And Nathaniel, I love your new site. Very well-arranged and you seem to have taken it up a notch with your writing too, not that it was ever bad, far from it, there's just a bit more joy in it. Or is it just me?
UNfortunately I agree with Rax's comment on the Tribeca site - boring speeches don't seem to hinder (not so sure about obnoxious speeches; James Cameron wisely left the stupid "king of the world" statement until he won the motherlode, ie the Oscar).
But if speeches equaled traction, Jackie Weaver's memorable one at the AFI awards would be winning her gongs right and left. Sadly, no.
I enjoyed reading the transcript of Bale's Critics Choice award speech; I'll have to find that on YouTube. I was impressed by that one, he hit all the right points without it being a boring read.
I really desliked Portman's speech. It was too girlie, too infantile, too high-pitched, too "me me me me me me", too annoying, too saccharine, too little girl, too princess-like. I don't like it.
I get that she's happy because she's pregnant - I really do- but I think that, at the end of the day, pregnancy is still a private matter. There's no need to make such a huge fuss about it and turn it into a show.
But I do think Oscar loves those girlie, weepy, "cutesy", adorable, child-like speeches from actresses. This, I think, is part of why actresses such as Julianne Moore and Laura Linney dont win Oscars, that's why I think that, in Natalie's generation, Michelle Williams never will.
Every now and then though there comes a breeze of fresh air, usually in the supporting category, with speeches such as Tilda Swinton.
Compare Natalie's speech to that of another pregnant nominee, Rachel Weisz. Weisz's speech had a lor more maturity, elegance, depth and grace than Natalie's, even being much more sober and short. And Weisz did not say a single word about her visible pregnancy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UludWDxgmfk
I loved Natalie Portman's Globes speech as I said before. It hit all the right notes, and I found it to be endearing as well as funny. She's found some happiness in her personal life and is hitting a career peak professionally. Let her have this moment in the sun, b/c it surely may never come again for her.
As for Christian Bale, it looks like a lot of ret-con going on trying to redeem himself for voters. I wonder if it's really working for him or not with these gracious speeches. We'll see with the SAGs if they can overlook his off-set a-holeishness and reward him. If he wins there, he's winning the Oscar. And he's my top choice this year in supporting actor.
I agree that the gold is blinding Portmann. she used to be a private lovable person now she turn into the Black Swan hunger for attention. she gives child like speeches that doesn't measure up to her Harvard degree. I hope that all those over the top hype
not gonna backfire come Oscar night.
Lara -- thank you. I love the new site too. I don't know about improved writing or joy (my primary emotino this time of year is exhaustion/stress :)
Yeah, Portman's GG acceptance speech was some kind of freaky. Would you say something like, "He's totally wants to sleep with me!", with your *parents* in the audience? Yuck.
Bening's was much more dignified, although, let's face it, awards speeches clearly aren't her forté. (Remember her cavalier stroll to the podium and blasé acceptance speech at the 2005 GGs?)
Bale's and Leo's were sublime, hitting just the right notes of genuine ebullience and classy gratitude.
Oh, come on people, Portman's speech was fun. She was genuinely excited, and there was nothing she said here that you wouldn't hear from any other giddy pregnant lady. In my experience, at least. My own parents found it delightful, and that goofy laugh just appealed to me all the more.
Gervais's jokes are verboten. As is genuine joy during awards season. We can neither laugh with them *or* at them!
Oh, and I think Bale and Leo's speeches clinched it for them. Energetic, respectful, exciting.
I totally agree with Kay. Melissa Leo is going to get a lot of votes from middle age female performers... specially the ones who never had a real chance to shine.
I'm totally surprised with Natalie Portman. Considering she's a Harvard student, I think she could do better speeches... those "Oops! I'm pregnant cause I had sex!" jokes are painful.