The 2019 Governors Awards were held last night and the star turnout was impressive. Robert Pattinson, Adam Sandler, Eddie Murphy, Saoirse Ronan, Taron Egerton, Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Bong Joon Ho, Greta Gerwig, Adam Driver, Taika Waititi, Scarlett Johansson, Cynthia Erivo, Tom Hanks, Laura Dern, Charlize Theron, Quentin Tarantino, Christian Bale, Olivia Wilde and Regina King were just some of the famous faces on hand to take in the festivities and participate in what one might describe as old fashioned politicking. Yes, the Governors Awards is pretty much the Iowa State Fair of the awards season circuit, an event where AMPAS members can seek each other out to “finally meet,” catch up with old friends and, most importantly, leave a positive impressions before hitting those screening links. Oh, and of course some honorary Oscars are handed out.
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This years recepients included Geena Davis, who took home the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, and West Studi, David Lynch and Lina Wertmuller, who were awarded honorary Academy Awards. The speeches were mostly short, but sweet.
We’re going to forgive Geena Davis for throwing the fantastic “Earth Girls Are Easy” under the bus because the rest of her speech smartly made the case for directors, producers and studios executives to fight for more gender equity on the big screen. Davis was introduced by her “A League of Their Own” co-star Tom Hanks and longtime fan Constance Wu.
Wes Studi made history as the first Indigenous Native American to recieve an Oscar (a shocking revelation, frankly). The “Avatar,” “Heat” and “Dances with Wolves” star thanked everyone behind the scenes and the numerous directors who hired him along the way. Studio was introduced by Q’orianka Kilcher, noted poet laurette Joy Harjo and Christian Bale.
David Lynch gave perhaps the shortest speech in Governors Awards history. It lasted just :56 seconds including his standing ovation. He thanked the Academy and congratulated his fellow recepients. He was introduced by Isabella Rossellini as well as Laura Dern and Kyle MacLachlan.
The 91-year-old Lina Wertmüller recruited Rossellini as her translator and told the audience she wanted to change the name of the award to a feminine one, Anna. She also has a running joke over her disappointment that Rossellini was wearing a purple dress. The Italian filmmaker, was the first woman nominated for Best Director in 1977, was introduced by the legendary Sophia Loren and well as Greta Gerwig and Jane Campion.
