Bill Belichick should get an Oscar nomination for his movie reference during Saturday’s Deflategate press conference.

During the embattled Patriots coach’s impromptu session, perhaps the most surprising revelation was his random mention of the character “Mona Lisa Vito” from the 1992 movie comedy “My Cousin Vinny.”

The character was played by Marisa Tomei, who earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In the film, Tomei’s character is, as she puts it, “an out-of-work hairdresser,” but one who also is a car expert as a result of so many of her family members working as mechanics. She has a memorable courtroom scene in which she showcases her brilliance.

Perhaps Belichick is a big fan, because he used the role as a contrasting example to his scientific inadequacy.

“I’m not a scientist. I’m not an expert on footballs or football measurements. I’m just telling you what I know,” Belichick said. “I would not say I’m the Mona Lisa Vito of the football world as she was in the car expertise area.”

Is the 62-year-old Belichick secretly a pop culture maven? Maybe, although to be fair, the movie isn’t exactly current — it’s now 23 years old. Either way, as a result of Belichick’s comment, “Marisa Tomei,” “My Cousin Vinny” and “Mona Lisa Vito” all ended up trending on Twitter.

Here’s a quick look at a bewildered and giddy Internet reacting:
https://twitter.com/JohnDeMarzo/status/559083392676159488
https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/status/559092756820541440
https://twitter.com/BartHubbuch/status/559093133414518784
https://twitter.com/WillBrinson/status/559090728857792513
https://twitter.com/bruce_arthur/status/559083595772731393

—Additional reporting by Brian Lewis in Foxborough, Mass.