John Mulaney on March 10, 2024 and Kevin Costner in 1989’s Field of Dreams.Photo:Rich Polk/Variety via Getty ; Universal/Getty
Rich Polk/Variety via Getty ; Universal/Getty
John Mulaneymade his case for an old classic at the2024 Oscars.
As standup comedian Mulaney, 41, appeared onstage to present the award for Best Sound during the 96th Academy Awards on Sunday, he veered into a comedy bit revolving aroundKevin Costner’s 1989 filmField of Dreams.
“For years, movies didn’t have sound, and then they figured it out. Some people say that the silent era was the golden era of film — these people are difficult and insane,” Mulaney quipped.
“Without sound we wouldn’t have been able to hear such classic lines as ‘You’re going to need a bigger boat,’ ‘I’ll have what she’s having,’ and, ‘He was in the Amazon with my mother when she was researching spiders just before she died,’ " he added, referencing classic moviesJawsandWhen Harry Met Sallyand poking fun at Sony’s recent filmMadame Web.
“Or what about that moment inField of Dreamswhere we hear ‘if you build it, he will come,’ and then Costner does it, he builds a baseball field,” Mulaney added. “Or I guess he doesn’t build it — he mows down corn, and then there is a field and he’s like, ‘I’m going to watch ghosts play baseball,’ and the bank is like, ‘You wanna pay your mortgage?’ And he’s like, ‘Nah, I’m gonna watch ghosts play baseball.’ "
Costner, 69, starred inField of Dreamsas a corn farmer in Iowa who has a vision to build a baseball field at “Shoeless” Joe Jackson’s (Ray Liotta) behest. The film received three nominations at the1990 Oscars, including one for Best Picture.
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John Mulaney on March 10, 2024.Daniele Venturelli/Getty
Daniele Venturelli/Getty
“He comes up and he pats her on the back a couple of times and he’s like, ‘Hot dog, stuck in the throat,’ and then he can’t go back in the game,” Mulaney joked. " ‘Cause I guess there’s a rule in ghost baseball that if you leave the field at any point to become an elderly ghost and do the Heimlich maneuver, you can’t return to the field.”
John Mulaney and Olivia Munn on March 10, 2024.DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty
DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty
“I loveField of Dreams, that should win Best Picture — though they’ll probably go with one of this year’s,” Mulaney joked, before presenting the award for Best Sound toThe Zone of Interest. That film walked away with awards for Best Sound and Best International Feature at Sunday’s awards show.
Mulaney attended the Oscars with his girlfriendOlivia Munn. The pairposed for photos togetheron the red carpet before the ceremony, with the comedian wearing an all-black tuxedo and Munn, 43, in a floor-length silver gown.
source: people.com