Sean Penn's Oscar Speech

[AdminAssistant]

The Speech:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dnM8v9aaR0

An Article:
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus...0902231889.htm

I think it was absolutely great that Penn called Americans out on their bigotry - but what do you think? Did it help the equality movement or hurt it? Too political? (Honestly, I think the only reason Penn won was because the voters wanted him to make a big Prop 8 speech.)

[Boozy]

It won't hurt, it won't help. Prop 8 supporters never respected Sean Penn's opinion to begin with.

I agreed with what he said here, but as a general rule, I don't respect his opinion much either. He's a sanctimonious little know-it-all.

[lordlundar]

Meh, He's just looking to extend his 15 minutes by duplicating Michael Moore.

[daleduke17]

No one cares what celebrities think. This is just a publicity stunt. He's basically saying "Look at me...I played a gay man in a movie and am promoting gay rights. I'm so cool."

This would have been no different if Heath Ledger would have done it following Brokeback Mountain.

[Amethyst Hunter]

It won't hurt, it won't help. Prop 8 supporters never respected Sean Penn's opinion to begin with.

I agreed with what he said here, but as a general rule, I don't respect his opinion much either. He's a sanctimonious little know-it-all.

Agreed on all counts (plus I think he sucks as an actor too). Anyways, a year from now, nobody will remember who won Best Actor except the few straggling Oscar diehards. (seriously, does anyone remember last year's awards? I sure don't)

[BlaqueKatt]

plus I think he sucks as an actor too

So did I until I saw Milk, he was incredible.

[blas87]

Sean Penn is a total douche. He was only cool when he was younger, circa Fast Times At Ridgemont High.

[the_std]

I have a very hard time seeing him as anything but Jeff Spicoli and therefore it was impossible for me to take his big ol' speech seriously. I kept waiting for him to add the word "righteous", or perhaps "gnarly", to the end of every sentence!

[BlaqueKatt]

ok fast times at ridgemont high was released in 1982 that's 27 years and 41 films ago-do any of you saying he's a bad actor feel the same about say Johnny depp? that's like saying-"I personally can't see him as anyone other than Glenn in Nightmare on elm street-as that's the only movie he was good in."

41 films have you seen any of them?

At close range
Colors
Casualties of war
Carlito's way-GG nominantion(Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture)
*Dead man walking(O-nomination(best actor)-won berlin film fest for best actor, Chlotrudis Award-win for best actor, GG win best actor, Independent Spirit Award-win best actor, GG nom for outstanding performance.
The thin red line
*I am Sam-Best actor oscar nom-SAG win for outstanding performance
*Mystic River(15 different awards for best actor-including "ACTOR OF THE YEAR" from the london critics film circle)
*21 grams(a few more best actor)
*Assassination of richard nixon
Milk


He picks his roles based on substance and personal beliefs(dead man walking-I am sam) not on "popularity". over the past couple days I rented the films marked with an asterisk from the video store down the street-I'll admit that if I had seen these films when they came out my opinion of him as a actor would've change prior to seeing "Milk". He doesn't go for what I consider "glory roles" many of his films are based on actual events-and are shunned by mainstream theatres(Milk was only played at the local Sundance cinema here), I highly recommend seeing at least one or two of his other films listed above before passing judgment that's "he's a lousy actor"

By contrast as mentioned above most people I know think Johnny Depp is "an amazing actor"-has never actually done a serious role of any kind, and hasn't won an award much more substantial than a "teen choice award" or "audience award"-no oscars, no Golden Globes, not even a Screen Actor's Guild award. "Willy Wonka" Or "Captain Jack Sparrow" are what I consider "glory roles" no substance to the character whatsoever. Lets see Johnny Depp play a man with the mentality of a 7 year old fighting for custody of his daughter, or as a death row inmate-he won't do it as they won't get him Glory-and it's out of his range.


I'd also like to add that those saying he "jumping on a bandwagon" or "using his status"-In 1985, Penn gave a memorable performance in the role of Andrew Daulton Lee in The Falcon and the Snowman. Lee was a former drug dealer by trade, convicted of espionage for the Soviet Union and was originally sentenced to life in prison. Lee was paroled in 1998. According to an April 8, 2005, interview in The Guardian, Penn later hired Lee as his personal assistant, partly because he wanted to reward Lee for allowing him to play Lee in the film, and also because he was a firm believer in rehabilitation and thought Andrew Lee should be reintegrated into society now that he is a free man again.

On October 18, 2002, Penn placed a US$56,000 advertisement in the Washington Post asking then President George W. Bush to end a cycle of violence. It was written as an open letter and referred to the planned attack on Iraq and the War on Terror.

On June 10, 2005, Penn made a visit to Iran. Acting as a journalist on an assignment for the San Francisco Chronicle, he attended a Friday prayer at Tehran University.[16] Later in 2005, Penn appeared at the ACLU of Northern California's annual Bill of Rights Day Celebration to present Sister Helen Prejean with the Chief Justice Earl Warren Civil Liberties Award for her work opposing the death penalty.

In August 2008, Penn made an appearance at one of Ralph Nader's "Open the Debates" Super Rallies. He protested the political exclusion of Nader and other third parties.[21]

In October 2008, Penn traveled to Cuba, where he met with and interviewed President Raúl Castro.

In September 2005, Penn traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana, to aid Hurricane Katrina victims. He was physically involved in rescuing people.


He has always been a very political actor.


While Johnny Depp has a band and a restaurant/winery(in France where he moved to to avoid both his fans, and paying US taxes-where he's now decided he's paying too much in taxes and is looking to move to an 896 acre estare in England)-wow he's really out there making a difference in the world......

and he made a similar speech at the SAG awards-

[the_std]

Uh, I said absolutely nothing about him being a bad actor, or less talented because of a role he had oh-so-many years ago. That's just an image I get stuck on. That's all.

[protege]

I have a very hard time seeing him as anything but Jeff Spicoli and therefore it was impossible for me to take his big ol' speech seriously.

Glad I'm not the only one. Penn seems to be remembered best for his role as Spicoli...even if the flick came out 27 years ago. Even so, I can't help but feel that his speech was another attempt to stay in the spotlight

[RecoveringKinkoid]

The only thing I think about his speech is I have to wonder, once again, why actors can't just accept their damn award, thank the appropriate people, then wash down a nice big Shut The Fuck Up pill with a tall glass of Sit The Fuck Down.

Seriously. Actors are not politicians. Nobody gives a rip what they think. They need to shut up and get off the stage so the crew can go home.

Not that my days of working TV have made me bitter or anything.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

I guess it's okay for an actor I don't like to call me out on my bigotry. I guess if I drove for a few hours I could find a place where being pro-gay rights would be the bigoted position, and while I take offence I salute what's-his-name for contributing to a global free market of ideas and...

Oh, he was talking about those Americans... the thoroughly un-American assholes who voted for Prop 8.

Yeah, screw them.

So, this actor, is he in the House or Senate? Neither? I guess that's my 2 cents in the 'stfu' bucket.

I have a pretty good idea for figuring out how American a person is.

List 10 basic rights, 2nd amendment, marriage, vote whatever.
If a person's score is lower than 8, no gov positions.
A score of 9 is iffy, while a score of 10 get's you at least a governorship.
Any score lower than 2 get's you beat over the head with a brick.
Any who volunteer to carry out the beating, get's a beating.
Sound good?

Back on topic for a second, while I don't think actors really have a place in the political world outside actually achieving a public office, I respect everyone's right to express their opinion, though I'd rather they sat down with someone with the opposite opinion and start a good debate.

[Flyndaran]

Like we all wouldn't use a camera in our faces to state our own opinions.
As a nobody, I have the right to state my opinion, so why shouldn't famous people get that same right?