Oscar® shockers: Surprise wins, onstage antics and that famous lip lock

At its best, the Oscars is a pop-culture event that celebrates those who’ve been involved, in some capacity or another, with the most visionary, epic, moving and worthy films of the past year. At its worst, it’s a predictable self-congratulatory affair where politics win out and the safe choices end up being the right ones. But every once in a while, certain moments transcend the ceremony itself, either for their sheer shock value, emotional resonance, absurdity or a combination of all three. Here we take a fond look back at some of the Oscars' biggest shocks.

It just got easier out here for a pimp

Craig Brewer’s gritty Hustle & Flow not only introduced soon-to-be household names Terrence Howard and Oscar-nominated Taraji P. Henson to audiences but it also featured an equally hard-hitting song by Memphis rap group Three6Mafia. “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” went up against music from Paul Haggis’ lauded Crash and Dolly Parton’s track from Transamerica for the Best Original Song and the nomination itself was surprise enough. So when Queen Latifah, noticeably delighted, sung out the name of the winning song, members of Three6Mafia bounded onto the stage with the kind of careless enthusiasm that’s seldom seen at the Academy Awards. Thanking Jesus, the Academy and their choreographer, one member got a big laugh when he gave a special shout-out to George Clooney, whom he referred to as his “favourite man in show business.”

Lip service

When little-known 29 year-old actor Adrien Brody won the 2002 Best Actor Oscar for his profoundly moving work in The Pianist, the young thesp took full advantage of his moment in the spotlight and fulfilled many a man’s fantasy when he planted a powerful, celebratory wet one on unsuspecting presenter, though visibly game, Halle Berry. Brody would have been remembered without the lip lock – honoured as the youngest Best Actor Oscar winner – but we’re glad he went with his instinct. After Berry recovered and Brody caught his breath, he made his way to the mic, telling the beauty, “I bet they didn’t tell you that was in the gift bag!”

Spry at 72

Jack Palance did a fine job of sending up his bad guy persona in City Slickers and proved he was still a force to be reckoned with when he accepted the 1991 Best Supporting Actor Oscar, with his first words directed at Slickers co-star and Oscar host: “Billy Crystal – god! I crap bigger than him.” A little less than tasteful and not exactly the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks acceptance speech, but Palance proved he wasn’t quite done shocking the audience when he started doing one-arm push-ups in a bid to prove his youthful vigor. Off-colour jokes about sex and a very casual, barely audible “thank you” made for a memorable Oscar moment.

Benigni goes Banagnas

Italian actor-writer-director Roberto Benigni won big on Oscar night in 1998, coming away with a win for the coveted Best Actor prize for his role as a father who uses his imagination to help his son cope with their internment at a Nazi concentration camp. But when Life is Beautiful was announced as the Foreign Language Film winner, Benigni leapt up, perilously standing on the back of his seat, his arms thrown up in elation and proceeded to hop up the steps to accept the award from a flushed Sophia Loren. His irrepressible joy brought the audience to its feet while he shared his desire to kiss everyone and thanked the academy for, wait for it, the “hailstorm of kindness” – but we know what he meant.

You’re like a brother to me - oh, wait

While accepting her 1999 Best Supporting Actress Award for her role as a wild and manipulative mental patient in Girl, Interrupted, Angelina Jolie surprised, and kinda creeped out, the viewing public by proclaiming her love for brother James. Dressed like Morticia Adams – these were pre-UN ambassador days after all – she claimed to be “so in love with my brother right now” and open-lip kissed him in front of photographers and cameras – more than once. Love between siblings can take many forms but this random public display of affection resembled an exchange between lovers and left most feeling icky. Who knew she would go on to become Mrs. Brad Pitt.

The little film that could

Generally speaking, if Steven Spielberg talks up your film, you’re doing something right. Tiny Irish music-romance flick Once was the toast of Sundance in 2007 and had Spielberg crushing hard: “A little movie called Once gave me enough inspiration to last the rest of the year.” Despite the accolades, it’s fair to assume no one predicted an Oscar nomination, or win, for its two leads – former Frames frontman Glen Hansard and his on-and-off-screen love interest Markéta Irglová. After a stirring performance of their song “Falling Slowly” and subsequent Oscar win for Original Song, Hansard got in his thank-yous but Irglová’s attempt to share her gratitude were thwarted by the swelling cut-off music. Luckily, host Jon Stewart wasn’t having it. He invited Irglová back onto the stage so she could properly enjoy her moment. All together now – awwwww!

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What are you some of your favourite Oscar moments? Was it a weird acceptance speech, a visibly inebriated winner or an unexpected win? Share your thoughts below!