Al Pacino is talking out after the best way he introduced the 2024 Oscar for Greatest Image left audiences confused.
“There appears to be some controversy about my not mentioning each movie by title final night time earlier than asserting the Greatest Image award,” Pacino, 83, stated in a press release to Us Weekly on Monday, March 11. “I simply wish to be clear it was not my intention to omit them, relatively a alternative by the producers to not have them stated once more since they had been highlighted individually all through the ceremony. I used to be honored to be part of the night and selected to comply with the best way they wished for this award to be introduced.”
He continued: “I notice being nominated is a large milestone in a single’s life and to not be totally acknowledged is offensive and hurtful. I noticed this as somebody who profoundly relates with filmmakers, actors and producers so I deeply empathize with those that have been slighted by this oversight and it’s why I felt it essential to make this assertion.”
Because the 96th annual Academy Awards ceremony concluded on Sunday, March 10, in Los Angeles, the actor took the stage to current the ultimate class. Whereas 10 movies had been up for Greatest Image, the nominees weren’t introduced yet one more time earlier than Pacino opened the envelope.
“That is the time for the final award of the night, and it’s my honor to current it. Ten fantastic movies had been nominated, however just one will take the award for Greatest Image,” Pacino informed the viewers on the Dolby Theater. “And I’ve to go to the envelope for that, and I’ll. Right here it comes. And my eyes see Oppenheimer. Sure. Sure.”
Some had been stunned that nominees weren’t reiterated whereas others had been stunned that Pacino didn’t use the well-known “and the Oscar goes to” phrasing earlier than asserting Oppenheimer’s win.
Host Jimmy Kimmel joked in regards to the awkward second on Monday morning’s Reside With Kelly and Mark.
“I suppose he’s by no means watched an awards present earlier than,” Kimmel, 56, quipped throughout his look on the speak present. “It looks like everybody in America is aware of the rhythm of the way it’s purported to go, right down to ‘And the Oscar goes to…’ however not Al.”
It’s protected to say that Pacino has seen his fair proportion of ceremonies. He has been nominated for 9 particular person Oscars, successful Greatest Actor for Scent of a Lady in 1993. He has additionally starred in lots of Greatest Photos nominees, together with 1972 winner The Godfather and 1974 winner The Godfather Half II.
Invoice Kramer, the chief govt of the academy, informed press after the ceremony that there was no difficulty with Pacino’s presentation. “Every thing went fantastically,” Kramer stated, per The New York Instances. “He was simply having enjoyable up there.”
There was, nevertheless, somebody lacking from the stage. Pacino was meant to reunite with Scarface costar Michelle Pfeiffer to have a good time the movie’s fortieth anniversary. Nevertheless, Pfeiffer missed the ceremony for “private household causes,” in keeping with Deadline, which prevented her from touring from New York to Los Angeles.