Oscar winner slates Bush and war

Oscar winner slates Bush and war

Film maker Michael Moore, whose film exploring US gun culture has won the best documentary Oscar, criticised US President Bush and the war on Iraq in his speech.

Moore, who invited his fellow nominees on stage with him, said: "Fictitious election results that elect a fictitious president... mean we have a man sending us to war for fictitious reasons - shame on you Mr Bush."

Adrien Brody, who beat Daniel Day-Lewis and Jack Nicholson to win best actor gave Halle Berry, who presented the award, a huge kiss as he collected his prize.

The Pianist star received a standing ovation at saying he was filled with sadness due to the war with Iraq, adding: "Whatever you believe in whether it's God or Allah may he watch over you and we pray for a swift resolution."

And actor Chris Cooper made a plea for world peace as he won best supporting actor for his role in the film Adaptation, and also praised co-star Meryl Streep.

Chicago star Catherine Zeta Jones, who won best supporting actress, exclaimed that in receiving her award from Sean Connery, it was "a Scotsman giving a Welsh girl an Oscar".

The musical Chicago is tipped to dominate the 75th Academy Awards after picking up 13 nominations - it has so far won five awards.

Nicole Kidman has worn a fake nose in every movie she's ever made - except The Hours
Steve Martin, Oscars host
Rapper Eminem won an Oscar for best original song for the film 8 Mile, but was not at the ceremony to collect his prize.

This year's Oscars saw scaled-down red carpet entrances, but protesters gathered outside the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood amid the ceremony's tightest security as the war in Iraq continues.

The National Guard and police marksmen were also put on standby.

The awards began with host comic Steve Martin joking about the "glitz" at this year's event, and making jokes at the expense of several stars at the ceremony, including Jack Nicholson and Nicole Kidman.

"I'm glad they cut back on all the glitz - you probably noticed there was no fancy red carpet tonight. That'll send them a message," he said, referring to anti- and pro-war protests outside the ceremony.

Nowhere in Africa, a film directed by Caroline Link about the challenges faced by a German Jewish family who flee from the Nazis to Kenya, won best foreign language film.

Japanese cartoon Spirited Away won the first Oscar for best animated feature, while The Lord of the Rings won for best visual effects and Chicago got best art direction.

The ceremony is being broadcast live in the US on TV network ABC, also broke off from the event to relay the latest news on the war in Iraq.

Chicago's closest rival at the Oscars is Martin Scorsese's epic Gangs of New York with 10 Academy mentions, while British director Stephen Daldry's The Hours has nine.
British hopes include Daniel Day-Lewis and Sir Michael Caine, both up for best actor.

In the best picture category, Chicago will compete with Gangs of New York, The Hours, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Pianist.

The Hours star Nicole Kidman will fight it out with Chicago star Renee Zellweger for best actress, with other nominees Diane Lane, Salma Hayek and Julianne Moore thought likely to lose out.
Scorsese is still looking for his first directing Academy Award after six nominations. He is competing against Rob Marshall, nominated for Chicago - his first film.

Also in the running are Stephen Daldry for The Hours, Roman Polanski for The Pianist and Spanish director Pedro Almodovar for Talk To Her.



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