Reactions from Tuesday morning's Oscar nominees:
Christoph Waltz
Best Supporting Actor, “Inglourious Basterds”
At 5:30 I was really sleeping, and my agent woke me up. He’d threatened to do that, and I said, “Don’t wake me up if you’re only going to tell me that I can go back to sleep.” So I assumed, when the phone woke me from my sweet slumber, that it was fantastic news.
I went into this the same way I went in the morning of the Golden Globe nominations, or the Screen Actors Guild, or anything else. I take the praise and the accolades with immense gratitude, but I refrain from further expectations. And I don’t do that because I’m such a philosopher. I do it out of sheer egocentricity, because it makes my life easier and more enjoyable. If I started calculating percentages or computing chances and odds, I’d be wasting my time.
So I’ve trained myself, over the last few months, to not expect anything and not take anything for granted. And I feel like I’ve kicked a nasty habit.
Yes, we have awards shows in Europe, and yes, the carpets are also red. But it’s nothing like it is here. We have the show, and that’s it. We don’t have the season. Of course, all the shows in Europe try to emulate that Oscar buzz – but that’s all it is, an emulation.
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Meryl Streep
Best Actress, “Julie & Julia” (statement)
I am proud and grateful to stand with these women who have given such a range of beautiful, indelible performances this year!!
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Jeremy Renner
Best Actor, “The Hurt Locker” (statement)
This is more exhilarating than I could have ever imagined. What a tremendous honor from the Academy– a blazing stamp in the passport of an artist that can never be taken away and will always be cherished.
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Mark Boal
Best Original Screenplay, Best Picture, “The Hurt Locker”
Maybe it’s my nature, but I watched it with my fingers crossed pretty tightly. And it goes without saying that I was very, very pleased with the outcome.
It really is hard for me to wrap my head conceptually around the idea that I’m in competition with “Avatar” for anything. I mean, I like Jim, and I remember Kathryn calling me and saying, “You have no idea who your best friend is.” “Who?” “Jim Cameron. He’s a huge supporter of your screenplay.” So maybe I should feel competitive with him, but I can’t.
I’m acutely aware of how many writers don’t get to have their passion projects made, and I know it doesn’t always go this way. I mean, when you run into Matt Damon and he says he loves your movie and wants your opinion, it’s pretty good for a guy who always just figured he was an investigative reporter. I’m searching high and low for a downside, and I don’t see one.
