AFP

HOLLYWOOD

HERE are some of the colourful quotes from the 84th Academy Awards show on Sunday night.

“I want to thank Uggie the dog. I think he doesn’t care, I’m not sure he understands what I say. He’s not that good, but thank you.” — The Artist director Michel Hazanavicius, referring to the canine star of his movie.

“Christopher Plummer, ladies and gentlemen, may be walking up on stage tonight — because apparently he wanders off.” — veteran Oscars host Billy Crystal, making a quip about Plummer’s age as he presented the show for the ninth time.

“Tonight, enjoy yourselves because nothing can take the sting out of the world’s economic problems like watching millionaires present each other with golden statues” — Billy Crystal, welcoming the audience to the show.

“When I first emerged from my mother’s womb, I was already rehearsing my Academy thank you speech, but it was so long ago, mercifully for you, I have forgotten it.” — Christopher Plummer “This is a crap shoot. Every single one of those nominees tonight, two of whom are my very good friends, two of whom weren’t even born when I started coming to this ceremony..
could been standing there, and would have deserved to.” — Meryl Streep “He’s going to make everybody else look bad because the others ones are 30 years old and they are a little dingy.” — Meryl Streep, referring to her third Oscar statuette.

Her other two were for Kramer vs Kramer in 1980 and Sophie’s Choice in 1983.

“At this time, many Iranians all over the world are watching us and I imagine them to be very happy... not just because of an i m p o r t a n t award... but because at the time when talk of war, intimidation and aggression is exchanged between politicians, the name of their country, Iran, is spoken here through her glorious culture, her rich and ancient culture that has been hidden under the heavy dust of politics.” — Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, accepting the best foreign language film Oscar for A Separation.

“I love your country.” — French actor Jean Dujardin, arriving on stage to receive his best actor Oscar. He finished with a strongly-worded expression of gratitude in French. Asked about his use of an expletive later on, Dujardin smiled and said, in English: “Uh, yeah. I’m sorry.” “I’d like to apologise for that — however, that said, it did come from the heart and it was absolutely spontaneous.” — best documentary feature Oscar winner TJ Martin, apologising backstage after using an indecent word during his acceptance speech, bleeped out by the delayed live broadcast.

“I really understand I’ll never be up here again. I want to thank all my colleagues, I look out here before me and I see my life before my eyes, my old friends and my new friends. The thing that counts the most with me is the friendships and the love and the sheer joy of making movies with you. Thank you so much” — Meryl Streep.