Beauty Break: 10 Greatest Photos from the 2017 Governors Award
Sunday, November 12, 2017 at 10:55AM by Nathaniel R
Varda & Jolie dancing
As you surely know by now the Academy held the annual Governor's Awards last night honoring directors Agnes Varda and Charles Burnett, actors Donald Sutherland, and cinematographer Owen Roizman who we've been celebrating here on the blog this past week. The giddiest moment was surely Angelina Jolie and Agnes Varda doing a little dance when the Mother of the French New Wave was presented with her statue, complete with spins and everything.
As something of a surprise to yours truly (did I miss a press release somewhere?) they also honored director Alejandro González Iñárritu with a special Oscar for an experimental VR project...
from left: Inaritu, Varda, Roizman, Burnett, and Sutherland
That means the Birdman director, who has made only six features all of which have been nominated for at least one Oscar, now has five Oscars. This returns us to yesterday's existential question about what the Honorary Awards should be for). Video will be posted soon of the speeches but until then, we've selected our 10 favorite pics from the event.
A green with envy note: I was not in attendance though I type this from LA. I've yet to be invited but Awards Daily made their first trip -- kisses to my friend Jazz -- so this gives me hope that it just takes time because that site has been around forever too.
8 MORE FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE GOLDEN NIGHT
Ava DuVernay. Queen. She looks great holding an Oscar, right? hint hint Academy.
Best Actresses goofing about - was JLaw photobombing Emma?
the tiny star of The Florida Project was thrilled to meet Wonder Woman
Sarah Paulson and Jessica Chastain congratulating Agnes Varda
Saoirse Ronan does not require photoshop. She is FLAWLESS in person. Saw her at the A24 party this week. That they give her such bad skin in "Lady Bird" is a true makeupartist feat.
Andrew & Emma reunited
Greta Gerwig, Angelina Jolie, and Dee Rees at the pre-party
Robert Pattinson enjoying his drink while listening to Greta Gerwig.
Reader Comments (39)
That photo of Emma and Jennifer highlights just how similar they look.
Great photos! Though why they felt they needed to award Inarritu...again... so soon confounds me. Meanwhile Andy Serkis is still unrewarded for his mocap mastery.
Robert Pattinson - There's someone close and more interesting than the girl who is trying to catch his attention.
The special Oscar for Inarritu is ridiculous.
Jean-Luc Godard is Oscarless. Mike Leigh is Oscarless. David Lynch is Oscarless. Peter Weir is Oscarless. But by all means, give four-time winner Inarritu an honorary Oscar for a VR installation.
Suzanne - Godard is not Oscar-less. He was awarded an Honorary Oscar in 2010. He just didn't show, nor did he really care? (At least he says.)
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jean-luc-godard-honorary-oscar-45475
Gal Godot reminds me so much of Ashley Judd in that photo.
Have you attended the main Oscar telecast yet Nathaniel? I seem to remember Sasha Stone got her first invite a couple of years ago and said she didn't realize (as a site owner who has been around for a long time) that all she had to do was write to the Academy?
The photo of Lawrence and Stone, along with the following photo of Ronan, highlights the unfortunate currently mandatory Pattern of best actress winners- white under-30 girls.
Natalie Portman fit into this Groupon when she won.
Brie Larson is another prime and Very recent example.
No women over 30, no non-nothern european whites.
It makes me worry for actresss such as Chastain, who is over 40, or Michele Williams who is 36 or 37.
Then people wonder why Viola chose to submit as supporting. Dark-skinned black women over 40? She would NEVER beat Stone, Just like Huppert and Negga didnt, eventhough both their performances were miles better than Stone's.
All the Oscars Inarritu has received since 2015 make it sting even more that Linklater got nothing for Boyhood.
And yes, Amanda, ageism and patriarchy threaten to ruin the Best Actress Oscar. Lawrence, Larson, and Stone's wins were not deserved given the performances they were nominated with.
Amanda, you're so right.
Lawrence and Stone's wins are an absolute farce. They stole their Oscars, in both cases, from from more talented French actresses who gave transcendent performances, with performances that were, at best, serviceable.
It really makes me sad how Hollywood push these white It girls to the front of the queue, at the expense of far more talented actresses, like Chastain.
And indeed, I was disappointed when Viola did category fraud, but who could blame her, especially given she'd already suffered the disappointment of losing for THE HELP (when she ought to have won). I guess she decided an Oscar in the wrong category was better than no Oscar at all. Due to the recipe you've described and Hollywood's adoration for their leading ladies under 30 and white, that Oscar was Stone's, wrongly or wrongly.
I take consolation in the fact that both Jlaw and Stone's films flopped at the Box Office this year tho. It's like, the Academy can try to make them happen as much as they want. The public ain't biting.
(Ronan hasn't won yet tho, and she's someone who's talent actually merits one, unlike Jlaw and Bugeyes. She shouldn't be lumped with those two frauds!)
I agree Ronan is light-years better than both Lawrence and Stone, but she fits the criteria.
Dont remind me that J-Law beat Riva. It hurts till this day.
I also woudnt have given the Oscar to Brie Larson, Nomination: Sure. Win: No.
It really became the It girls club.
Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone, Saoirse Ronan and Greta Gerwin are the same person.
And yes, looking back, it was extremely obvious, crystal-clear that the Oscar belonged to Stone from day one. No one would stand a chance. Nobody ever did.
Why would Viola ste herself for disapointment once again: Because she knew she would lose to the white, skinny, harmless, friendly, non-controversial, big eyed 27 year old girl.
Even though their performances dont even belong in the same universe as far as acting - and degree of difficulty- is concerned.
So she probably thought- yes, supporting actress oscar is better then another loss. Because she isnt stupid or naive. She knew.
For all whp blames the wins of stone and lawrence, let's remind the winners if the academy did the things right:
Emmanuelle Riva (not JLaw)
Adele Exarpoulos and Cate Blanchett
Marion Cotillard (if the academy did right, La Moore would had four wins at this time)
Charlotte Rampling (not Brie)
Isabelle Huppert (not Stone)
Considet that Rampling has the french citizenship to, for five years the best roles were given to french actress
Inarritu's Oscar is all about subject matter and timing:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/oscars-alejandro-g-inarritus-vr-installation-get-special-honor-by-academy-1052518
this comments section reveals that the abuse of women isn't just happening inside hollywood...
Saoirse Ronan looks stunning.
I agree about the honorary Oscar for AGI. I'm sure his VR piece was impactful, but it hardly sounded ground-breaking in the field...
Looked like a nice party- but why are they giving the overrated Alejandro González Iñárritu another Oscar. He has too many already.
I fully agree with you Ryan T! It's unfair to the creators of motion capture and to Andy Serkis, who should have shared the Honorary Award,
Jon — I second those actress wins!
Huppert, Rampling, Cotillard, Exarchopolous, and Riva!
par -- yup. people always feel the need to denigrate actresses. even when they're praising other actresses. All of the recent winners of the Best Actress Oscar have been talented -- best of the year? no. but that's usually how it goes. I've written about the Academy's 20something fetish (for women only) for many years but it doesn't mean those 20something actresses aren't very talented. It just means Hollywood is obsessed with youth with women (what else is new in this culture?) and has different rules for men (what else is new?)
everyone -- i still firmly believe Viola Davis would have won had she campaigned lead. She was the biggest lock of the acting categories from day one due to previous losses, momentum of career, other awards making her look ever more prestigious, and a volcanic performance.
"All of the recent winners of the Best Actress Oscar have been talented."
Eh, I'll agree to disagree on that one. Brie Larson and Emma Stone have talent, but I think Winter's Bone is Jennifer Lawrence's only impressive performance (even a broken clock is right twice a day). I just don't think she's much of an actress--not in any detailed or technical way.
I also think we should stop crying "abuse" or "misogny" every time someone respectfully suggests an actress isn't quite as fabulous as she is made out to be. The media and industry elevates many minimally talented women *and* men to star / Oscar winner status, and we have the right to call it out.
I don't think Viola would've been a lock to win in lead, unfortunately. There's a weird racial bias in lead actress. They literally had it all set up for them in 2012, all they had to do was spike it over, and they went right to Meryl for a terrible, terrible film. I think Viola would've faced some obstacles.
Also WOW Saoirse is stunning. She's giving me Kate Winslet vibes there, except like, the now Kate Winslet in young form... if that makes sense at all.
"I also think we should stop crying "abuse" or "misogny" every time someone respectfully suggests an actress isn't quite as fabulous as she is made out to be. The media and industry elevates many minimally talented women *and* men to star / Oscar winner status, and we have the right to call it out."
Couldnt agree more Mike
There's a weird racial bias in lead actress.
Yes, racism.
the bitterness of it all.
Mike, I get what you are trying to say, but maybe now is not the time to mock people calling out misogyny and abuse, just saying. And of course you can respectfully disagree about someone's talent, and I think what you stated about Lawrence was totally that. And of course some people would disagree and her performances work for them. (Me personally with her, it can go either way depending on the film).
However, @ Emma's post claiming these young women "stole" their Oscars and seemingly blaming the actresses themselves for being supported by the industry is absurd with an air of misogyny. (And strangely name calling) By all means be frustrated that the industry invests more in young white women. The film industry is hardly the only part of our society that tells women they are of most value when they are young, and preferably beautiful and white. I'm not sure why this person is blaming the women themselves for simply existing in a society that has created these structures. Presumably they all love acting, this is their dream job, are they supposed to take themselves out of the running? Are they not allowed to be ambitious? By all mean, you don't have to like their work, but I am not sure why they themselves are responsible for winning awards bestowed by a group that is largely old, white men.
Totally agree with Nathaniel, why do we have to tear down some women in order to prop up others?
I don't disagree with the point about voters' obsession with hot white ladies under 30 but Nathaniel has a point about denigration of the actresses. Too often this argument 'calls out' the young women instead of the system. Yes, these women benefit from that system (for now) but they aren't responsible for it, and in light of all the recent harassment and abuse scandals, we know they suffer the pains of it more than just about any group in Hollywood. It's depressing that after all that's come out the argument still focuses on "nah, she's not all that really .,, she's just young and hot .., so and so is better than so and so."
If we want things to shift then we should be 'calling out' old white male voters and white male male studio executives who place such a high value on "fuckability."
But when people complain about It, they arent complaining about the actresses themselves, but about the system.
Why are white, skinny, under 30 women the only ones who should have their work recognized?
What about ALL the actresses who arent nothern-european white and who have already celebrated their thirty-first birthday?
Why didnt Huppert deserves recognition? Because she is over sixty? She is probably the greatest Actress Alive and her nominated performance was by Far the best out of the five nominees.
The same goes for Hampling, Riva..... Lawrence, while fabulous in winter's bone, was probably the weakest on her category the year she won.
So wee advocate, so to speak, in favor of ALL the other actresses who have commited the solo sin of ageing out of their twenties.
And again, I see bias- Nathaniel hás spoken viciously about Amy Adams and specially about Hillary Swank because she- Guess what- "stole" Benning's Oscars.
Viola wouldnt have won. The only Black actresses to ever Win was Halle Berry, who is pretty much the human embodiment of the idea If Beauty and who was, at the age of 29, the single most beautiful woman walking the earth. There was also the Denzel/Poitier narrative pushing her further.
And that was Years Ago...... Since then, Best actresses keep getting Younger and Younger, unless you' ré a Blanchett or a Moore after seven ir so losses.
They couldnt give It to Huppert. They wouldnt have given It to Viola.
Criticism doesn't usually focus on the system, no. Or it pretends to and then quickly descends into nasty often personal arguments about, and criticisms of, the women. This thread is a pretty good example of that:
Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone, Saoirse Ronan and Greta Gerwin are the same person.
WTF?
Emma is a white, skinny, harmless, friendly, non-controversial, big eyed 27 year old girl.
Real nice.
I take consolation in the fact that both Jlaw and Stone's films flopped at the box office.
Two original films with female leads failed. Yay!
Bloody hell. No analysis; just more shame and blame, shame and blame.
Exactly @ msd. The arguments have used personal attacks and name calling, rather than advocating for change in the industry and/or making a case for why a different performance was their favorite. I mean, look, Annette Benning in 20th century women was my favorite of last year, and I could speak forever about why, and how sad it was she wasn't even nominated, but that's not Emma Stone's fault.
And particularly great point about celebrating the failure of two female lead films, just because they feel spitful about the leads. That's not helping anything.
Eek. Sad that a post featuring a great woman director turned into such as misogynistic mess in the comments section. I just wanted to say that I love Agnes Varda so much.
The system is rigged to favor a certain kind of person, but it also favors white men a lot and I never see this kind of petty and personal stuff aimed at them on film websites (this month has taught me they practically have to be sex offenders for that to happen).
I've been a around a while and how people talk about the latest actresses is how people used to about Pfeiffer, Winona, Kidman, Zellweger, Julia Roberts and Scarjo and Keira when they were rising and it's how they will talk about Moretz, Steinfeld and Fanning when they begin their ascent. It's kind of dispiriting and it doesn't have to be this way but it is what it is.
Now will everybody go see Faces Places? You'll be a better person for it!
Abel, I totally agree, it is so dispiriting. And as a culture, we continue to do it to young women finding success. (which is what they are, successful, whether or not you happen to enjoy them personally). It's really just the engrained patriarchy, tearing down women when they become successful, even more so if they are beautiful, because as women we are taught always to be in competition. It's sad to see women continuing to participate in that.
@Amanda, you say that Huppert is the greatest living actress of all time and should have won last year. You do realize that all art is subjective, right? Yet you stated it as a definitive fact. Stone would not have been my vote last year, but neither would Huppert. Not that either women are bad, or undeserving. Specifically, I found Elle an offensive tone deaf mess, and as a sexual assault survivor difficult to sit through, so admittedly I can't totally judge that performance in a vaccuum. I also understand that some people loved the movie and performance, and that doesn't make their opinion any less valid. But I can see how it could be a tough performance to vote for. In fact, my vote would have been for Ruth Negga, a non white, non under 30 woman. But I would have voted for her because that performance resonated the most with me of the 5.
Also, yay Agnes Varda, she is incredible and I want to be her when I grow up!
I AM also a rape survivor. Date raped at the age of seventeen. Roofied drink.
Had problems with the movie. Loved her performance.
Negga would be my number two choice.
I do think Huppert, If not THE greatest Actress Alive, is on the top 5. Not only because of Elle, but her entire career.
Amanda, just to be super clear, I wasn't suggesting that no sexual assault survivors could like the movie, and I would never take away from someone else's experience of the film. I was just trying to give context for why I had such a hard time with the movie and for me, couldn't separate it. I was merely trying to personalize my reaction, I hope you don't think I was in any way minimizing your reaction to her performance. I only bristled at they way you presented your opinion for her deserved win as fact, rather than just your opinion, which is awesome! (Personally I would have been more onboard if it was her performance in Things to Come) And it's fun to argue about what performances we like, and think are best! I just don't think we need to tear down the other actresses who won for being young and white and cheer for their future movie's failures.( not you, another poster who did that). It's also great to discuss why a performance doesn't work for you, address your problems with Emma's performance (she can't sing well enough for a musical and I was embarrassed when she "belted", in my opinion) but dragging her for looking a certain way, that is out of her control, just feels like it contributes to this toxic environment for women. Which I know you care about from other posts, I am so there with you on the Casey Affleck stuff. And I get why you are bothered that the Academy seems to only value young, white women. Me too! Just the ire of some of these posts seem directed at the actresses themselves, and not even their performances.
Also, just on a personal note, I am sorry that happened to you, I hear you and believe you and every time another person is able to share their experience I feel a little less alone in the world. And may we all be a Isabelle Huppert!
Amanda -- i have never spoken "viciously" about Amy Adams. I just objected to her default nominee status. Though you are right that I was vicious to Hillary Swank back in the day -- though never about her looks -- i dont do that. have never been about that, not even when i was much younger and more immature ;). I started feeling guilty about how mean I was about her and have not been doing so in years. I thought she was really good in The Homesman recently and made sure to say so.
I understand that a lot of people think Viola would have lost to Emma but we'll never know. It's all theoretical but I honestly believe Viola would have won. I think people were READY to give her an Oscar -- you could feel it from the second the first trailer hit -- and the loss for The Help was something they had to make up for -- just as it has been for many "oops. our bad. here you go" oscar situations in the past.
But you're obviously right that Berry's age and beauty helped her win. Youth and beauty is always helpful to win (except if you're a male actor -- double standards! -- and then it's not important and can even be a hindrance. If you're too pretty they'll wait until you're older: see Paul Newman / Jeff Bridges etcetera)
Abel -- YUP. People used to talk about the 80s actresses that way, too. It never changes (sigh)
Everyone -- i hope that all of this media love for AGNES VARDA will convince more people to see her films. I'm eager to see VAGABOND again because I know i was too young for it when I saw it... but I recommend THE GLEANERS AND I and CLEO FROM 5 TO 7 to everyone because they're totally masterpieces.