Burning Questions

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Image credit: Jorge Drexler: Mark J. Terrill/ AP

Who were those three gals in the balcony that the camera kept cutting to during Honorary Award winner Sidney Lumet's speech? His wife, Piedy, and daughters (from his previous marriage to Lena Horne's daughter Gail Jones) Amy, 40, and Jenny, 37. Or, as we like to call them, the Lumettes.

What was that thud heard during noted comedian Jeremy Irons' presentation of Live Action Short? Rushing to strike the set for Best Original Song nominee ''Learn to Be Lonely,'' stagehands forgot to switch off a microphone, which, when suddenly unplugged, went boom!

Speaking of that Best Song nominee — performed by Minnie Driver in The Phantom of the Opera — why did Beyoncé sing it, plus two others? Was everyone else busy? Bootylicious ratings, baby! ''The song is nominated, not the act,'' says Conti. ''The producer [Gil Cates] knew that Beyoncé was hot. It's not any disrespect on my part...but how do you tell the world, Minnie Driver?'' Uh...the same way you tell them, Antonio Banderas?

Which brings us to Jorge Drexler. What did he sing while accepting his Best Original Song trophy? Two verses from the winning tune, ''Al Otro Lado del Rio,'' from The Motorcycle Diaries. ''I said, If I win, I'll sing the song,'' says Drexler, who was crushed when he learned the producers didn't want him to perform. The Academy first asked Enrique Iglesias, but when he declined, Antonio Banderas and guitarist Carlos Santana stepped in — with no bad blood from the composer. ''Antonio was a gentleman,'' Drexler explains. ''He said he wouldn't do it if Walter [Salles, Diaries' director] and I didn't want him to.'' Besides, Drexler's serenade on stage gave him the last laugh. ''Yes! That sounds much better than revenge. Laughing? That's the most important thing.''

(Additional reporting by Nicholas Fonseca)

Originally posted Mar 07, 2005 Published in issue #810 Mar 11, 2005 Order article reprints

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