Joe Pesci Brings Goodfellas To The Irishman

Undisputed all time best Oscar speech.

Joe Pesci, after rejecting the part for years, was finally convinced to come out of retirement for a supporting role in Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman on Netflix, 2019

The Oscars has a long history of boring, windy, blowhards milking the moment. Hey, I get it… what kind of actor doesn’t like attention? The Oscars is where you have the eyes and ears of all the most influential players in show business. Say the right thing, thank the right people, present the right image, and perhaps the next vehicle gets you right back on that stage.

Consider… the respect of peers and the security of profit. A banking headliner writes the cheques during studio negotiations. Even just a nomination can bring you to the attention of a major studio and all that has to offer. The pounding heart. Validation… acknowledgement… it’s like a drug. Is there a better feeling than being recognized for hard work by those whom you respect the most? So get excited…

But for the love of all that is holy…

“Keep it brief. ”— Ricky Gervais, highest rated Golden Globes host of all time.

The longest Oscar speech was given by Greer Garson at the 15th Academy Awards after she was named Best Actress in 1942 for “Mrs. Miniver”. Her speech ran for nearly six minutes. It was shortly after this incident that the Academy set forty-five seconds as the allotted time for an acceptance speech and began to cut the winners off after this time limit. — try3steps

In 1991 Irish Oscar winner (My Left Foot) Brenda Fricker presented Joe Pesci the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor at the 63rd Academy Awards for his performance as Tommy DeVito in Goodfellas. It’s generally accepted that the following scene (which was improvised) clinched the win.

Scorsese’s Goodfellas, 1991

Tommy: What’s really funny is… the fucking bank job down in… I’m in the middle of the fucking weeds lying down. He comes over and says what are ya doing? I say restin’. Here ya resting!?! We’re at a beach… hey I know I’m resting. He pulls me in and he’s asking all kinds of questions you know this and that. He says, so what’ya gonna tell us tough guy? My usual, zero, nothing. [Chuckles] I tell you, fucks. [Laughs] He says, no you’re gonna tell me something today. Tough guy. I say ok I’ll tell ya something go fuck your mother! [Loud laughs especially from Henry Hill, Ray Liotta]. Bing, Bong. He had his hand on my face like this. The prick…. then you know I start to come out of it and who do I see… this big prick again. He says what’ya want to tell me now tough guy? I said, Bing, what’r ya doin’ here I told ya to go fuck your mother! [Everyone laughing] I thought he was gonna shit!…

Henry: You’re funny. Really funny. [Chuckles]

Tommy: What’ya mean I’m funny?

Henry: [Laughs] You know, You’re funny. That story. It’s funny. You’re a funny guy. [Chuckling]

Tommy: You mean the way that I talk?

Henry: It’s just… you know… you’re just funny… the way you tell the story and everything. [No one is laughing]

Tommy: Funny how? Like what’s funny about it?

Anthony: Hey, Tommy. You got it all wrong, he didn’t…

Tommy: Oh, hey Anthony. He’s a big boy. He knows what he said. What did ya say? Funny how?

Henry: Just…

Tommy: What?

Henry:…you’re funny.

Tommy: Let me understand this cause maybe it’s me and I’m a little fucked up maybe. I’m funny how? Funny like I’m a clown… I amuse you? I make you laugh. I’m here to fuckin’ amuse you? What do you mean funny? Funny how? How am I funny?

Henry: Just, you know, how you tell the story. What?

Tommy: No, no I don’t know. You said it. How do I know? You said I’m funny. How the fuck am I funny? What the fuck is so funny about me? Tell me. Tell me what’s funny.

[Long dangerous pause]

Henry: [Laughing] Get the fuck out outta here, Tommy. [Everyone laughing]

Tommy: [Also laughing] Did I have him? I almost had him!

“This is an opportunity for me to thank all the nominees for best supporting actor this year and [to recognize] their marvelous examples of the craft of acting. Your skills contribute so much to our craft because as you know good acting is never easy. So I’m proud to say your names.” — Brenda Fricker

The nominees for Best Supporting Actor at the 63rd Academy Awards:

Bruce Davison — Longtime Companion

Andy García — Godfather 3

Graham Greene — Dances with Wolves

Al Pacino — Dick Tracy

Joe Pesci — Goodfellas

Amazing the way this group of thespians keeps exceeding the expectation they just yesterday set for us.