Last night at the Golden Globes Jodie Foster accepted a lifetime achievement award and gave a long, thought-provoking speech. Here’s the big moment:
“So while I’m here being all confessional, I guess I have a sudden urge to say something that I’ve never really been able to air in public. So, a declaration that I’m a little nervous about but maybe not quite as nervous as my publicist right now, huh Jennifer? But I’m just going to put it out there, right? Loud and proud, right? So I’m going to need your support on this. I am single. Yes I am, I am single. No, I’m kidding — but I mean I’m not really kidding, but I’m kind of kidding. I mean, thank you for the enthusiasm. Can I get a wolf whistle or something?”
[Audio goes out]“…be a big coming-out speech tonight because I already did my coming out about a thousand years ago back in the Stone Age, in those very quaint days when a fragile young girl would open up to trusted friends and family and co-workers and then gradually, proudly to everyone who knew her, to everyone she actually met. But now I’m told, apparently, that every celebrity is expected to honor the details of their private life with a press conference, a fragrance and a prime-time reality show. You know, you guys might be surprised, but I am not Honey Boo Boo Child. No, I’m sorry, that’s just not me. It never was and it never will be. Please don’t cry because my reality show would be so boring. I would have to make out with Marion Cotillard or I’d have to spank Daniel Craig’s bottom just to stay on the air. It’s not bad work if you can get it, though.”
“But seriously, if you had been a public figure from the time that you were a toddler, if you’d had to fight for a life that felt real and honest and normal against all odds, then maybe you too might value privacy above all else. Privacy.”
Wow, a grown-up in Hollywood. Go figure.
Yeah I really liked that speech. Mostly because it was kind of weird an disjointed. It felt like she kind of knew what she was going to say, but pretty much let it fly. So it was refreshing. Mostly at those things, everything is so canned. Even when there's a touching moment I can't help thinking, well, right! They're acting!
Loved Jodie Foster's speech!
I actually enjoyed Anne Hathaway's speech. A little 'canned' as well, but I felt an immense amount of sincerity in her comments towards Sally Field.
More good stuff from Jodie:
http://thebea.st/NBXqLB
How about the intro by Robert Downey jr. and the movie montage? I thought Jodie's speech lacked rhythm. The knuckle knocking annoyed me. She wanted a laugh from the single line. Bad timing. On the other hand, I love her
When I was 17, I worked a summer job in The Brill building in NYC where they did post production on movies. The building was full of editing rooms leased out to different films. One movie they were working on was THE ACCUSED.
There were two studios where actors would come in to loop additional dialogue (also known as ADR). So during my lunch hour I'd sit in the lounge outside one of the studios hoping to spot an actor. First day or so on the job I met Kelly McGillis who was in that movie too. I chatted her up about books and theater.
A few weeks later I was hanging around eating lunch when Jodie Foster sat next to me. It was just the two of us outside of the studio. I only had a vague notion of how harrowing her role was in that movie. She was reading the NY Times and I blabbed and blabbed. She was cordial but after awhile I realized I was being a pain in the ass, that I should just shut up and leave her alone. So I left, feeling like a dope.
(By the way, her hair was blond and long and she looked really gorgeous. Wore brown circular glasses.)
So I left her alone and felt relieved that she hadn't balled me out. But felt badly that I'd been such a talkative ass.
Few hours later I'm in the back of a crowded elevator going up. Door opens on the third floor, and she's standing there, waiting for an elevator to go down. She sees me in the back of the elevator, makes eye contact, and waves hello.
It was such a small thing. At the time I felt relieved that I hadn't pissed her off too bad. Also, special that in a crowded elevator she acknowledged me. It was just a decent, real thing, as if she was saying, "Hey kid, nothing personal, I was just in the zone, you're okay."
Never forget it.
I guess I'm in the minority here, but I loathed the speech. Self-aggrandizing, pretentious, and whiny is how I found it.
Don't stand in front of a global audience, at a Hollywood awards show, after a lifetime in the spotlight, with Mel Gibson at your table...and preach to me about the importance of privacy. Sorry, but that don't wash.