Seizing his 45 seconds in the Oscar spotlight, Michael Moore directed sharp criticism at President George W. Bush and the U.S.-led war in Iraq. Playing to a mixture of applause and boos, Moore's outburst was the most political statement on Hollywood's gala night.

The popular muckraker won his first Oscar for Bowling for Columbine, Moore's exploration of gun violence in America. Taking to the stage to claim his best documentary award, Moore was joined by the other nominees in what he called a show of solidarity for nonfiction during these "fictitious times."

"We live in the time where we have fictitious election results that elect a fictitious president," Moore said. "We live in a time where we have a man who's sending us to war for fictitious reasons, whether it's the fictition of duct tape or the fictitious of orange alerts."

Applause gave way to some boos, as the orchestra began playing to cue the filmmaker to leave the stage.

"We are against this war, Mr. Bush. Shame on you, Mr. Bush. Shame on you," Moore shouted.

"Any time you've got the Pope and the Dixie Chicks against you your time is up!!"

Afterward, host Steve Martin tried to restore levity.

"It was so sweet backstage, you should have seen it," Martin joked. "The Teamsters were helping Michael Moore into the trunk of his limo."

Many expected the 75th Academy Awards to be overwhelmed by stars' political views. At the least, tastefully toning down the glitz and glamour of the event and its fashions was expected to lend more importance to the choice of appropriate accessory.

Before the ceremony a group of celebrities who have campaigned against the war, calling themselves Artists United to Win Without War, publicized plans to have their members wear Lucite peace sign pins for the event.

But the partisan fashion parade never materialized. Watching the arrivals, CTV's Ben Mulroney only noticed three stars sporting the basic peace pins. Hours director Stephen Daldry, Chicago director Rob Marshall and actress Julianne Moore were spotted with the small lucite "peace sign" buttons.

Most stars chose to forgo the pins and cheeky strips of duct tape, in favour of the gold and diamond peace dove broach commissioned by the group Global Vision for Peace. Among the stars seen with the Picasso-inspired pin were Adrien Brody, Chris Cooper, Daniel Day-Lewis and Susan Sarandon.

Once the show was underway, it was up to host Steve Martin to set the tone for evening. He opened his monologue Martin with a nod to current events.

"You probably noticed there was no fancy red carpet tonight. That'll send 'em a message!" Martin quipped before turning the joke on himself.

"I am so excited to be back, I didn't host the show last year, because I was... how do you say it? Not asked! Everybody has been so supportive of my hosting this year, except of course France and Germany," Martin deadpanned.

Aside from Michael Moore's speech, the anticipated flood of antiwar commentary never happened.

Thanking the crowd for his best supporting actor prize Chris Cooper came close to making a political statement. "In light of all the troubles in this world I wish us all peace" Cooper said, wrapping up his short acceptance speech.

Adrien Brody also took the chance to share the mixed emotions conjured by his best actor win.

"You know my experiences of making this film made me very aware of the sadness and the dehumanisation of people during times of war and the repercussions of war. And whomever you believe in, whether it's God or Allah, may he watch over you. Let's pray for a peaceful and swift resolution," Brody said.

Although the Academy Awards have typically steered clear of politics, the platform of a broadcast reaching up to one billion viewers has, at times, been too enticing to pass up.

In 1972, Marlon Brando marked his comeback with an Oscar-winning performance in The Godfather. Instead of accepting his second Oscar at the 1973 ceremony, Brando sent Native American envoy Sacheen Littlefeather.

Set against the violent events taking place in Wounded Knee, the act sparked controversy when Littlefeather took the opportunity to assail Hollywood for its degrading depiction of Native Americans.

More recently, Oscar organizers punished a pair presenters who strayed too far from the script. Onstage to present an award in 1993, actors Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon gave a short speech about Haitian political refugees with AIDS. Infuriated, producer Gil Cates banned the couple.

Although Cates had vowed to keep them off the telecast indefinitely, he gave in two years later. Sarandon and Robbins returned to the Oscar stage, joking about the speech that had gotten them in so much trouble.

Oscars other political moments include:

• Presenter Richard Gere, also at the 1993 Oscars, declared his sympathy for Tibet and disgust with China. "If something miraculous, really kind of movielike could happen here... (Deng) will take the Chinese away from Tibet and allow these people to live as free, independent people again," Gere announced.
• Accepting the best supporting actress trophy in 1978, Vanessa Regdrave congratulated Palestinians for challenging Israel's "Zionist hoodlums."
• Marked as a communist for her support of the Viet Cong, Jane Fonda inspired groans at her Oscar appearances through the '70s. In 1970, she stepped out of her limo and greeted the starry-eyed crowd with a Black Panther salute.

According to tradtion winners can speak their mind without fear of reprisal. Oscar customs mean the Academy's annointed can use their 45 seconds at the podium to do or say whatever they wish, within the bounds of "good taste."