However, the 73-year-old Jackson had never won an Oscar, nor for his famous role as a murderer in Pulp Fiction. The Academy finally awarded him an honorary Oscar on Friday, as part of the annual Governors Awards, which mark a lifetime achievement in cinema and in humanitarian endeavors. “I’m really proud to have received this statuette,” Jackson said. “This thing will be loved.” He added: “Thanks to everyone who has ever bought a ticket to any movie I’ve been to.” In contrast to the Oscars, which are driven by intense competition and internal politicization, the Governors Awards give the Academy the opportunity to play well and reconsider the careers of favorite stars and directors. Along with Jackson, Ellen May, Liv Ullman and Danny Glover were also honored. Elaine May, right, receives an honorary Oscar from Bill Murray Photo: Stewart Cook / REX / Shutterstock May, who began her career as a comedian in the late 1950s (including a successful and significant collaboration with Mike Nichols) and broke through barriers as a female director, screenwriter and actress, was introduced by Bill Murray. May, 89, mocked that she thought she was going to be introduced “by [Ukrainian president Volodymyr] “Zelensky, but thank God I got Bill.” (The Academy reportedly explored the idea of asking Zelensky to make a video appearance at the Oscars on Sunday.) “I think this is very nice,” May added as she received her award. “I do not know what else to say other than to enjoy your food.” Glover, 75, received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and spoke about how his film career had its roots in activism, including his role in the largest student departure in U.S. history at San Francisco State University in 1968. Alfred Woodard, who starred opposite Glover when he played Mandela in the 1987 film and co-founded the New South Africa Artists defense team, said: “Nelson Mandela welcomed us. He thought Danny was a partner, because Danny walked in consciousness. “ Glover also hailed his “rich relationship with organized labor,” including his guest, George Gresham, president of the Health Workers’ Union, and his mother, who grew up in Georgia and became the first person to do so. to her family who went to college. He also linked his struggles in 1968 to secure a Department of Black Studies at his state university, and the current era of Republican reaction against the alleged threat of “crucial racial theory” teaching in schools and the New York Times 1619 project (revised). the central role of slavery in American history). “How do you get to this point?” How do you move and keep moving? ” Glover asked. His answer: “People move and keep moving.” Ullman, the Norwegian who starred in some of Ingmar Bergman’s greatest films before becoming a director, said Norwegian culture had discouraged bragging. “That’s why I brought 20 people from Norway,” he said. While some might attribute the success of Ullman’s career to Bergman, her longtime collaborator, actor John Lithgow, said that “Bergman probably would not have been one of our greatest directors without her.” Ullmann would also continue to direct younger actors, including Jessica Chastain and Cate Blanchett, in lead roles. Filmmaker Ava DuVernay told the Guardian that the combination of artists who received the Governors Awards this year was “incredibly moving”. As a female director, she said, it was possible to see May and Ullmann honored for their direction, “and remember, there is so much attention to it now, but there were pioneers who are not named in the discussion.” Jackson and Glover, he said, are “two black men who have broken so much ground in terms of the enormity and breadth of work they have done.” Jackson has more than 150 film and television titles, Glover more than 200. “They have touched our lives and changed our culture.” “It seemed like fuel to me,” he added. “It feels like food. I feel food “. Quentin Tarantino, who directed Jackson in some of his most famous roles, including Pulp Fiction, told the Guardian after the award ceremony that he believed Jackson should have won at least two previous Oscars, though he would not comment on which movies. But Tarantino said seeing him honored by the Academy was “a really nice career issue”.
