Top 10 Best Oscar Speeches of Men

The Oscar® Speech is now being anticipated more than the production numbers. It is a sign of the public’s ever growing interest beyond the roles the artists play but also on the their personal thoughts. Through the years, we have witnessed winners who showed grace by sharing the award to their co-nominees, to the other members of the cast and crew of their movies, and their families but once in a while, a speech comes a long that truly leaves their mark. These are the ones that I have come to realize contain the SHIT – Sincerity, Humility, Intelligence and Tact.

Below are the greatest speeches that were delivered by men. The even better ones (*wink*) from women are next.

10. Steven Soderbergh

Some winners thank the people who have played a part in their movie or their career but Steven Soderbergh, when he won Best Director for Traffic, recognized and dedicated his award to everyone who creates any piece of art and is willing to share it with the world.

The Speech Highlight: (This is actually the whole speech) I want to thank anyone who spends part of their day creating. I don’t care if it’s a book, a film, a painting, a dance, a piece of theater, a piece of music. Anybody who spends part of their day sharing their experience with us. I think the world would be unlivable without art.

9. Steven Spielberg

After being snobbed by the Academy for years, Steven Spielberg won Best Director for Schindler’s List in 1993. He paid tribute to his mother whom he called his lucky charm. He said he loves her. It was not what he said but the sincerity in how he said it that it made his mother cry. He also, of course, paid tribute to the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust.

The Speech Highlight: I have friends who have won this before and I swear I have never held one of these before… I would like to thank my Mom who is here tonight who is my lucky charm and whom I love.

8. Al Pacino

Al Pacino won Best Actor in 1992 and, through a story of little girl who thanked him for inspiring him, tried to inspire many others.

The Speech Highlight: …a young girl came up up me… and she said that I had encouraged her. And that’s not necessarily by my work but just by the fact that we came from the same place. And I just can’t forget that girl and I can’t forget the kids out there who may be thinking tonight that if he can do it, I can do it. So this is really a proud and hopeful moment for me because I want to thank the Academy for giving us a gift of encouragement and this is a gift, a great gift to me. Thank you all, really. Thank you.

7. Sidney Poitier

Sidney Portier won an honorary Oscar® for his body of work. He is the First African-American to Win Best Actor.

The Speech Highlight: I arrived in Hollywood at the age of twenty-two in a time different than today’s, a time in which the odds against my standing here tonight fifty-three years later would not have fallen in my favor. Back then, no route had been established for where I was hoping to go, no pathway left in evidence for me to trace, no custom for me to follow.

6. Sean Penn

Sean Penn, in his own words, makes it hard for us to appreciate him sometimes. His speech, though, clearly showed what he stands for in life. He is a man who fights for what he thinks is right and does as he think is right. To hell with the world.

The Speech Highlight: Thank you. Thank you. You commie, homo-loving sons-of-guns. I did not expect this… I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me often. But I am touched by the appreciation… I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that way of support… I’m very, very proud to live in a country… for all its toughness, creates courageous artists.