MOVIE NEWS – Al Pacino says Oscar producers told him not to name the Best Picture nominees, just the winner.

It wasn’t a La La Land-level Oscar stumble, but Al Pacino probably wishes he could do it all over again after half-assedly botching the announcement of Oppenheimer’s Best Picture win. He did not name the candidates on Sunday. (See the clip at the end of the article!)

Reacting to the situation, the Scent of a Woman Academy Award winner and nine-time nominee said it was the producers’ call.

“There seems to be some controversy about my not mentioning every film by name last night before announcing the best picture award,” Pacino said in a statement through his reps. “I just want to be clear it was not my intention to omit them, rather a choice by the producers not to have them said again since they were highlighted individually throughout the ceremony. I was honored to be a part of the evening and chose to follow the way they wished for this award to be presented.”

Entering the stage to the theme of The Godfather and a standing ovation, Pacino thanked the audience and said, “Some Shakespeare now I think is in order, right?” After saying we weren’t going to do that, he added: “This is the time for the last award of the evening, and it’s my honor to present it. Ten wonderfilm films were nominated, but only one will take the award for Best Picture. And I have to go to the envelope for that, and I will. Here it comes. And my eyes see Oppenheimer.”

There was an awkward moment or two while the audience and TV viewers processed this. Then, applause and cheers.

As usual, clips from the Best Picture nominees were sprinkled throughout the broadcast, but Pacino admitted he understood if people felt offended.

“I realize being nominated is a huge milestone in one’s life, and to not be fully recognized is offensive and hurtful,” Pacino added Monday. “I say this as someone who profoundly relates with filmmakers, actors and producers, so I deeply empathize with those who have been slighted by this oversight, and it’s why I felt it necessary to make this statement.”

Al Pacino’s memoir is coming this year

In addition to announcing the best picture for the Oscars, there is something else that combines Al Pacino and reading: his memoir. The legendary actor has announced that his memoir Sonny Boy will be published this fall by Penguin Press.

“I wrote Sonny Boy to express what I’ve seen and been through in my life,” Pacino said to People. “It has been an incredibly personal and revealing experience to reflect on this journey and what acting has allowed me to do and the worlds it has opened up.”

Pacino will talk about his childhood in the Bronx, including his days at New York’s High School of Performing Arts.

Sonny Boy also details Pacino’s career, from avant-garde New York theatre performances to his most famous roles and collaborations.

The memoir will be released in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats, and Pacino himself will narrate the audiobook. Sonny Boy: A Memoir is out on October 8th and is available for pre-order now.

Source: THR, The Guardian

(WATCH) Al Pacino presents 'Oppenheimer' with the Oscar for Best Picture | #Oscars pic.twitter.com/H55MR2zztp

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