Sean Penn's best actor award: a real high point
It might not have been enough to redeem what came before for some viewers, but Sean Penn's award as best actor brought a moment of real emotion to the Oscars telecast last night.
He won for his portrayal of gay rights activist Harvey Milk, and he used the platform to speak out for equality.
Penn started his remarks with humor, addressing the Hollywood audience as "Commie, homo loving sons of guns."
But by the end of his speech, he was castigating those who oppose gay marriage and telling them they will bring "shame" on their children and grandchildren.
"We've got to have equal rights for everyone," he said.
He concluded his remarks by saying he was "proud" to live in a country that elected an "elegant man" as president -- and one that "creates courageous artists" like Mickey Rourke, a fellow nominee.
This is the speech that conservative media voices are going to be railing against tomorrow. Bet on it.
Comments
A real high point? This where the show jumped the shark - Rourke won everything else in the awards season, and for good reason. The Oscars just became a joke.
Hi, thanks for the comment. I knew Penn's words were going to be the ones that viewers loved or hated. This is the speech that is going to be argued about on talk radio and cable TV all day. Z
Posted by: Disgusted | February 23, 2009 12:18 AM
Sean Penn doesn't win because he is the best actor, he wins because he is a leading left-wing activist, and Hollywood loves that!
I knew that he would win, because Hollywood loves Sean Penn. Disgusted is right. The Oscars became a joke when he won.
Posted by: Cosmo Girls | February 23, 2009 12:53 AM
rourke has not won everything else in the awards season.
sean penn won the l.a, boston and san francisco critics awards, and the sag award for best actor for "milk."
Posted by: Tony | February 23, 2009 12:54 AM
"This is the speech that conservative media voices are going to be railing against tomorrow. Bet on it."
Are you kidding?
No one, on the left or right, is going to wait til tomorrow!
Penn's speech was the highlight of the Oscars and a real triumph for acting and gay rights. Bravo!
Posted by: Karen in California | February 23, 2009 1:14 AM
Speeches like this are why people have stopped watching the Oscars. Do you think I want to sit there and listen to some actor tell me I am a bigot because i dont agree with his political agenda? Let him rant all he wants, but i dont have to watch.
Posted by: Mikepcfl | February 23, 2009 7:25 AM
Mikepcfl, you're a bigot. Now you don't have to sit and watch some actor tell you you're a bigot because you don't agree with their political agenda. You can just read it here. Have a nice bigoted day.
Posted by: bma83 | February 23, 2009 9:16 AM
Too funny. There is no room for discussion, I dont agree with you, so I am a bigot?
My views on the issue are actually fairly nuanced. But blogs and what comes off as discourse now doesnt care.
I disagree with Penn and bma83 because I dont think the gay marriage amendment should have bene passed. So if that makes me a bigot, so be it. I dont think the government should "recognize" and marriage. Government made a mistake by recognizing and giving benefits to a religious function. Government should stop recognizing 'marriage' and recognize any time two people want to spend their lives together (Whether it is a man and a woman or a man and a man) as a civil union. Let churches decide who to marry. The government should recognize any two people who want to form a union and then get any insurance or tax benefits.
So I laugh at bma83's tolerance and I didnt watch Penn call me a shameful bigot. More actual discussion instead of name calling would get more done on the subject.
Posted by: Mikepcfl | February 23, 2009 12:22 PM
For the record, I do believe that Sean Penn deserved that Oscar for Milk. However with his speech, I find it annoying win actors put their own personal politics into their speeches. Conservative or liberal ,it makes Sean Penn look very pretentious.
Hi Alex, thanks for the comment. I think you know I am going to disagree on this one. I am glad to see the political speeches at Oscars. The telecast is a huge platform, and it makes for a lively discourse about important issues. And I think that is a good thing: a happy byproduct from an entertainment show that is all about selling movies and ads. Thanks. Z
Posted by: Alex | February 24, 2009 9:59 AM