The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today the recipients of next year's honorary Oscars: Gena Rowlands (John Cassavetes wife and muse), Debbie Reynolds (MGM musical legend) and Spike Lee. Was kind of hoping that Doris Day would figure into the mix somewhere...I guess next year...
Great choices! Can't believe Spike Lee's only prior nominations were for his screenplay (but not direction?) of Do The Right Thing and for the documentary 4 Girls.
Have to assume Carrie Fisher will be giving the Debbie Reynolds tribute speech at the Governors Awards. I wonder who they'll tap for Spike Lee and Gena Rowlands.
Very nice choices. But how is it that AMPAS has yet to honor Max von Sydow?
Also, with all due respect, Chgo, Gena Rowlands is one of the cinema's most extraordinary actors. I have to take exception to you parenthetically relegating her to merely the wife and muse of her late great husband, John Cassavetes.
Debbie Reynolds? I mean...I love her and all, but...
Happy Spike Lee is getting the Oscar he deserved for DO THE RIGHT THING and MALCOLM X.
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali
Borstalboy said: "Debbie Reynolds? I mean...I love her and all, but...
Happy Spike Lee is getting the Oscar he deserved for DO THE RIGHT THING and MALCOLM X."
Reynolds is winning the The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. From the Academy press release:
Reynolds, a Hollywood icon since she won hearts with her buoyant performance in “Singin’ in the Rain,” embarked on the role of a lifetime as a founding member of the Thalians, a charitable organization conceived and sustained by entertainers to promote awareness and treatment of mental health issues. She served as the group’s president almost continuously from 1957 to 2011, adding numerous terms as board chair and frequently presiding over its annual fundraising gala. Her tireless efforts have enabled the Thalians to contribute millions to the Mental Health Center at Cedars-Sinai and to UCLA’s Operation Mend, which helps military veterans recover from the physical and psychological wounds of war. Reynolds has appeared in more than 40 feature films, including “The Tender Trap,” “A Catered Affair” and “Mother,” and received a 1964 Oscar nomination for her lead performance in “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.”
The Honorary Award, an Oscar statuette, is given “to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy.”
The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, also an Oscar statuette, is given “to an individual in the motion picture arts and sciences whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry.”
At 58, Spike Lee, while certainly deserving, seems seems a little young for an honorary Oscar. He still has a lot of career ahead of him which well might include a competitive Oscar. He has two pictures in post-production right now..
In regard to Doris Day, I and I guess millions of her fans would love to see her honored. She has been offered the honor repeatedly and she just doesn't want to get one. She is healthy, happy and a true model of not only a great singer, actress and dancer but believes she is totally blessed and enjoys her life in helping other people and her many many animal companions. Anytime she is asked to be honored she tells people to honor her by donating to the DD Foundation for Animals or their local animal shelters. I truly love and admire her, her talent, her voice, not only her singing voice but giving her voice to animal welfare, HIV/AIDS, and other causes that are true to her heart.
When the vocal histories are assessed of the 20th century, Doris Day will be there along side Ella Fitzgerald...Frank Sinatra..at the top of the list.
Lee previously called the academy racist early on when he did not get a nomination.
I can think of many others more deserving than him. When he gives his speech at the ceremony, I will hit the mute button
Go on any search engine and you can see a litany of really incendiary remarks he made over the years. 2 of his best were in South Africa when he said " I seriously wanted to pick up a gun and shoot whites. His number 1 statement was "OJ did nothing wrong".
If you want to give him accolades great. Sorry I can not join you.
Okay, I'll take it. Roxy, could you please provide sources for each of the Spike Lee quotes you've provided? Would be interested to learn more about the context of each of the situations you're referencing. Thank you kindly.