During the Oscars, Al Pacino announced the Best Picture winner with seeming haste. Instead of reading out the full list of nominees, the actor skipped straight to the announcement, ignoring the traditional process. When he announced that Oppenheimer had won, the theatre was silent until he listed the crew and the film’s score. This unusual announcement drew criticism, with some saying it was disrespectful to not mention the other nominees. Despite this, Pacino has stated that it was a producer’s choice not to recognize the nominees again, as they were highlighted separately throughout the ceremony.
While Pacino was criticized for failing to recognize the other nominees during the ceremony, he has since apologized for any offense he might have caused. Pacino has stated that he did not intend to omit them and that he was honored to be part of that evening’s festivities. He also empathized with those who felt slighted by the oversight and recognized that being nominated was a significant achievement.
In addition to winning Best Picture, Oppenheimer also won awards for Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Score. In his acceptance speech, actor Cillian Murphy, who played theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, dedicated the award to “peacemakers everywhere.”
Pacino is a nine-time Oscar nominee and a recipient himself, having won Best Actor for Scent of a Woman. His performance in Coppola’s The Godfather trilogy is particularly notable, and he remains one of Hollywood’s most respected actors. Despite the criticism he received, Pacino’s apology and explanation have been well-received, and the incident is not likely to have a lasting impact on his career
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