There are arguably five or so peak weeks or periods during awards season. We’re in the middle of one right now. Even while diminished with a lack of world premieres AFI Fest has still been popping with galas for “Mudbound” and “Call Me By Your Name” and they still have “Disaster Artist” and now “Molly’s Game” as the closing night film, to go. Amy Adams was honored with the American Cinematique award with a star-studded ceremony on Friday night. And last night the Academy of Motion Pictures held the 9th Annual Governors Awards.
This year’s recipients of honorary Oscars included cinematographer Owen Roizman, filmmaker Charles Burnett, filmmaker Agnès Varda and actor Donald Sutherland. The were celebrated by familiar faces such as Steven Spielberg, Jessica Chastain, Ava Duvernay, Chadwick Boseman, Tessa Thompson, Kimberly Pierce, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Whoopi Goldberg, Reginald Hudlin, Sean Baker and Colin Farrell, among others. New AMPAS president John Bailey kicked off the night with opening remarks that were devoid of any mention of the scandal of inappropriate sexual behavior that has shook the industry to its core (and, yes, we’re guessing that it was somewhat awkward that Hoffman presented). Instead the focus was on the aforementioned honorees as well as Alejandro González Iñárritu who received a special award for his virtual reality piece “Carne y Arena.”
As always, the event not televised, but The Academy posted almost every speech to their YouTube channel (I’m still convinced AMPAS should put this event on PBS or a prestige cable network to give these winners their due). Here are some of the best moments of the night including a fantastic acceptance speech from Sutherland which makes us realize how much we’ve missed with such late recognition of his career.
Hoffman tells a story about Roizman and “color correction” for “Tootsie.” Hoffman, “A cinematographer that knows as much about makeup and depth of field is an Oscar winner in my book.”
Chastain notes that Vardes “stands with the great European filmmakers, but there is nothing foreign about her films.”
After Pierce, Chastain and Jolie introduced her Varda jokes “Are there no men in this room who love me to speak up?”
Ava DuVernay on how Burnett has been a “giant” to the African-American community. “To create, to craft your films with no promise of industry consideration, support or recognition for decades upon decades is the mark of a true artist.”
Burnett nervously wonders “Do I have to give a speech?” and talks about how a school teacher told him he’d never be anything. “Awards like this really make what was said in the past insignificant” and – effectively dropping the mic – “I hope he reads the trades.”
Farrell remarked on meeting the intimidating Sutherland with his lion’s like visage and the five words he first said to him that he’ll never forget to this day,”Put out that fucking cigarette.”
Lawrence has problems pronouncing Otto Preminger and says “if we had an honorary knighthood I think he’d be Sir Sutherland.”
Sutherland remarks how his son Rogue, an agent, was weeping after finding out he’d be honored “and finally I understand hew as trying to tell me that this, was going to look really wonderful at his office at CAA.”
You can watch more speeches and remarks on the Academy’s YouTube page.
