Flashback: Sean Penn’s awkward relationship with Oscar

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It’s amazing that Sean Penn has won two Oscars (‘Mystic River,’ ‘Milk’) considering how often he slams the academy, which he refuses to join, by the way, despite receiving frequent invitations.

‘With the Academy Awards, if you’re standing there and looking out, you’re not going to see many people who can find their butt with their hand,’ he said in 2008 while heading the jury bestowing awards at the Cannes Film Festival. The Oscar, he said, rewards ‘manipulation and very good marketing.’

Of course, 2008 was a bad awards time for Penn. Earlier that year, it was widely believed that he’d be nominated for best director for ‘Into the Wild,’ but he was snubbed. His poor-sport attitude may have had something to do with it. Prior to nominations coming out, he harrumphed at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, ‘The season of trophies is truly a season in hell.’

One year later, he rallied at the Oscars, winning the second lead-acting trophy of his career. He accepted it, saying, ‘I want it to be very clear that I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me.’

-- Tom O’Neil