Okay, so nix her as a host possibility. Oprah gets the Hersholt.
Dick Smith is an inspired pick for an Honorary Oscar. It’s interesting that I’m watching Tim Burton’s “Planet of the Apes” right now, which saw makeup artist Rick Baker shafted by the Academy, just as his mentor is announced for this honor. Baker talked a bit about Smith at Comic-Con last month.
And James Earl Jones, well. Who’s going to argue with that? Anyway, the press release, in part:
The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted tonight to present Honorary Awards to actor James Earl Jones and makeup artist Dick Smith and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to philanthropist Oprah Winfrey. All three awards will be presented at the Academy’s 3rd Annual Governors Awards dinner on Saturday, November 12, at the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center®.
[Photo: Columbia Pictures]
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30 responses to “James Earl Jones, Dick Smith and Oprah Winfrey to receive Academy’s Governors Awards”
Oprah huh? Has she even acted in any movies since The Color Purple? In 1986?
If the Emmys had an award like this, Oprah would over-qualify for that award. But she’s on TV. All she’s done is attach her name to the movie Precious.
I was about to say this was a ratings grab but I realized they don’t even have this award presented in the Oscar ceremony. But hey, it’s Oprah.
Robert Evans shut out again??? He represents everything about Hollywood, from the excesses and ego to the cinematic magic and self-depricating humor. And a line-up of Rosemary’s Baby, The Godfather, Chinatown, and Marathon Man makes him long overdue for the Thalberg. “The Kid Stays in the Picture,” with its charm, wit, and insight, more than makes up for his drug arrest. Not that such things should matter, as even Oprah admitting to using crack multiple times…
Who’s Oprah Winfrey ? I am only half-kidding. I am French, and thankfully her show means nothing around here. As for her career in movies !!! The Jean Hersholt is not just humanitarian, it’s also to reward a career. Where is hers ? There are so many talented artists overdue. Robert Evans, as quoted above. And Angela Lansbury, Catherine Deneuve, Joe Dante, Monte Hellman, Leslie Caron, Christopher Lee, Bryan Forbes ( uneven but with great exceptions ), and so forth… At least Dick Smith and James Earl Jones are a good choice. Hopefully they will add a name of a director or someone for the Thalberg Award. Still, it’s better than the honorary awards for the French Academy Awards : a few years ago, Will Smith received a lifetime achievement award ! He just happened to be there for promoting HITCH and voilà ! If you are a young actor, a bit famous, and wish to win a lifetime achievement award in France, try to have a movie released somewhere between february and april and you will get away with it. And you don’t even need to be humanitarian. Just be there then…
Oprah Winfrey?!
James Earl Jones is a cool choice though, as is Smith. I agree with pascal that Christopher Lee should be up there though. And Joe Dante, though maybe in another ten years time.
Oprah huh? Has she even acted in any movies since The Color Purple? In 1986?
“Beloved,” actually. In 1998. (Not counting more recent voice work in animated films.)
The good: character actor getting his due.
The bad: Oprah Winfrey over Mia Farrow
The ugly: Again, no female Honorary Oscar recipients.
The great: the character actor is the great James Earl Jones.
I’m so agree with Pacal about Angela Lansbury and would add Jeanne Moreau and Debbie Reynolds to the list of more that deserving candidates.
After the rumors that she could be the next presenter… we can safely assume that this award is a downpayment.
Interesting, I always thought that James Earl Jones voiced Mufasa in The Lion King, but it looks as though he ALSO played a character named Mustafa in the same film!
There’s a rumor that Angela Lansbury and Jeanne Moreau will co-host. Just trying yo help…
I agree with Gloria and Pascal. Who can we write to in order to get someone to recognize Angela Lansbury, Debbie Reynolds, Leslie Caron, and Doris Day?
Add Liv Ullman to the list of those who should get an award. Oprah, now really?! She hasn’t done much acting. Very unfair!
The Academy leadership is laughable. Oprah is an absurd choice. I’ll bet she lobbied for it.
Although I am not one of her fans, I would have been inclined to recognize Doris Day. She personified the 50s and 60s and had notable roles in musicals, comedies and dramas. Maybe she is too modest and self-effacing to be honored by the Academy.
Oprah, now really?! She hasn’t done much acting. Very unfair!
The Jean Hersholt Award isn’t made in recognition of an individual’s artistic contribution to the artform — it’s strictly a humanitarian honour. Oprah Winfrey is a prominent industry figure who does more philanthropic work than the vast majority of her peers. It’s a fair choice.
What’s with all the hate? Everyone sounds so wounded over these picks as if they were pesonally insulted.
“Oprah huh? Has she even acted in any movies since The Color Purple? In 1986? ”
First of all, she did. See ‘Beloved’. Second, she is already an Academy Award-nominated actress. She is also an occasional producer.
“I am French, and thankfully her show means nothing around here. As for her career in movies !!! The Jean Hersholt is not just humanitarian, it’s also to reward a career. Where is hers ? ”
Maybe it’s because her show is so little known in France that you can’t properly able to judge her career (which is, an ipressive one IN THE ENTERTAIMENT industry). It seems to me that you have a very wrong idea of what the Jean Hersholt *really* means. From where I sit, she is a decent choice.
By the way, I like how everyone assumes that Orah will not host now. I know it’s unlikely but let’s not forget that last year’s co-host was also a nominee.
Doris Day would have been a more sensible choice. She dominated the screen in the fifties and sixties in roles in musicals, comedies and dramas. Maybe she is too self-effacing for the Academy.
you were watching 2001’s “Planet of the Apes?”
Yes, Jones is a fine actor but there are very few of his films that are all that great. And I can’t think of too many of his films I want to run and rewatch for his performance. This is not the same as giving Deborah Kerr or Peter O’Toole an honorary Oscar.
Kris, were you watching it on FX? Me too, me too.
Yah, Oprah was in Beloved and Native Son, she produced the former as well as The Great Debaters (2007), for which she earned a GG nod for Best Drama Film. She also lent her voice to Charlotte’s Web (2006), Bee Movie (2007) and The Princess and the Frog (2009. Supposedly, she’s signed up to star opposite Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock in a film for writer/director Michael Patrick King (Sex and the City)
I didn’t mean for it to appear as if I was hating on Oprah. I was merely surprised because I thought these awards they give out are for people who do a lot of charity and philanthropy work AND who are prominent in the film industry, which Oprah is not.
I also just came up with The Color Purple off the top of my head, sorry I forgot the one other movie she did too. So she’s been in two movies in 25 years. My mistake.
You won’t believe which movie is creating a lot of buzz !
We certainly won’t if you don’t tell us.
I was actually watching the Blu-ray. Been watching all the “Apes” movies this week and finally closed it out with that stinker last night.
Oprah Winfrey getting an honorary Oscar has to be the most inexplicable, undeserving choice for that honor thus far. Sickening, especially when you consider just how many incredibly worthy actors and filmmakers there are with no such honor.
As for James Earl Jones.. I love the guy, love him as an actor, but honestly, I don’t think he’s done nearly enough high caliber work to deserve such a high honor.
Boy am I glad these aren’t televised anymore though.. Phew.
I’m all for Oprah getting a Hersholt. I mean, sure, she’s done what it takes to deserve it.
James Earl Jones is a much odder choice to me, compared to all the women listed above, for instance.
Apart from Strangelove, I’ve never seen a movie he’s in, and I don’t see much in his filmography to make a case for him…
Does anyone have any suggestions of classic James Earl Jones movies that I’m unaware of?
There’s no hate in dismissing Oprah Winfrey as a rightful recipient of a lifetime award, which the Jean Hersholt Award IS. Artists who receive one get an Oscar statue and don’t get another lifetime achievement award later. It is also the embodiment of a career, created to honor the late Hesholt through the idea to honor a humanitarian work. Her career IN CINEMA is not impressive and that should count.
There are much more legitimate choices. She did not get PRECIOUS made, she came on board later and by the way, not a great movie. I was gesting as I said her show is little known, we’ve heard of it once in a while and I don’t believe its importance in the History of Cinema is that great.
And I am not sure Kel is actually ‘ helping ‘ Oprah by quoting her impressive filmography. Far better than so many worthy actors. I am glad that she MAY shoot a movie some time, with so many unemployed actors.
Wheels: He’s the one actor who I feel has a reputation he hasn’t earned. I think it’s because his voice is so iconic. I’m sure you’ve seen The Lion King though, and he’s mostly know for The Great White Hope
@Wheels
There was this little movie called STAR WARS…
Other than endowing that girl’s school in South Africa, what has she done? That effort is in large part a monument of self-congratulation. It’s all about Oprah.
Angelina Jolie’s efforts for the UN have required her contribution of time; Oprah’s required writing a check.
Unless Oprah is terminal, this recognition could have waited 10 or 20 years.