Geoffrey RushAddressing criticism of David Helfgott’s recent...

Geoffrey Rush

Addressing criticism of David Helfgott’s recent piano concerts while accepting best actor Oscar for playing Helfgott in “Shine”

“To the unstoppable David Helfgott, the front of my script said that this story was inspired by the events of your life. You truly are an inspiration. And to those people that say it’s a circus, then with your celebration of life you’ve shown me that the circus is a place of daring and risk-taking and working without a safety net, and giving us your personal poetry.”

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Cuba Gooding Jr.

Effusively accepting his best supporting actor Oscar

“I love you . . . I love you . . . I love you . . . I love you . . . I love you . . . I love you . . . I love you . . . I love you . . . I love you . . . I love you . . . I love you . . . I love you . . . I love you . . . I love you.”

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Roger Ebert

To Vivica Fox, star of “Booty Call” (to which he gave a thumbs-up rating), as she arrived with Dennis Rodman

“What’s your name?”

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Billy Crystal

As inserted into “Jerry Maguire” for dialogue with Tom Cruise

“[Show me the money] is the most-used catch-phrase since ‘Where’s the beef?’ That was from ‘The Crying Game,’ wasn’t it?”

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Billy Crystal

In another “Jerry Maguire” scene “with” Cruise

“I want you to explain to me the plot of ‘Mission: Impossible.’ ”

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Billy Crystal

Noting that the nominated best actor roles were all “damaged” characters

“You got a burnt guy, mentally challenged guy, mentally abused guy, paralyzed guy . . . agent! And four out of the five are treatable.”

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Randi Thomas

ABC telecast narrator flubbing the name of the movie that eventual supporting actor winner Cuba Gooding Jr. was in and the part for which Chris O’Donnell is best known

“Nominated for ‘The Player,’ Cuba Gooding Jr. . . . Chris O’Donnell played Batman, or Robin, in ‘Batman.’ ”

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Jim Carrey

Presenting visual effects Oscar a day after his “Liar Liar” took in nearly $32 million on its opening weekend

“And how was your weekend?”

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Debbie Reynolds

Reading TelePrompTer script

“This wonderful gift of laughter that film provides . . . Who wrote this drivel?”

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Carrie Fisher

Oscar show first-time writer, and Reynolds’ daughter, coming out on stage

“It was my first year writing drivel.”

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Butt-head

With animated partner Beavis to present sound editing award

“Good sound editing can make the difference between a really boring chick movie about some English dude, and a really cool movie with lots of explosions.”

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Juliette Binoche

Surprised to win for supporting actress over Lauren Bacall

“I didn’t prepare anything. I thought Lauren was going to get it, and I think she deserves it.”

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Jessica Yu

Accepting short documentary Oscar for “Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien”

“You know you’ve entered new territory when your outfit cost more than your film. I’m not kidding.”

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Courtney Love

During arrivals outside, responding to comment from Roger Ebert about her move from punk rock to Hollywood respect

“You can’t dive into the mosh pit after a certain age.”

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Billy Crystal

Introducing the un-nominated Madonna to sing nominated song from “Evita”

“She actually called the show and said she wanted to sing, which I thought was showing a great deal of class. So here she is to sing her song, ‘Don’t Cry for Me Because I’ll Get Back at You If It Takes the Rest of My Life’ . . .”

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Andrew Lloyd Webber

On winning for best song, “You Must Love Me,” from “Evita”

“Thank heavens there wasn’t a song in ‘The English Patient’ is all I can say.”

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Billy Bob Thornton

Accepting best adapted screenplay Oscar for “Sling Blade,” the Southern coloquial-full film based on his own play

“Whoa! Lord have mercy.”

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Jodie Foster

Introducing writing awards

“In a way, the writer’s God. That’s why so many studio executives in this town are agnostics.”

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Anthony Minghella

Sending viewers around the globe to their dictionaries while accepting directing Oscar for “The English Patient”

“My wife has taught me the meaning of uxoriousness.”

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Frances McDormand

Giving nepotism a good name in accepting best actress Oscar for “Fargo,” which was made by her husband and brother-in-law

“The co-writer, director and producer of ‘Fargo,’ Mr. Ethan Cohen, who made an actor out of me; his brother, Joel Cohen, who made a woman out of me; and our moon and our sun, Mr. Pedro McDormand Cohen, who made a real mother out of me.”