Who Should Receive Honorary Oscars Next?
Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at 5:30PM We're about one month away from the announcement of this year's Honorary Oscar recipients. They're usuallly announced at the end of August for a November Governor's Awards ceremony. This year's ceremony will be on November 12th. Last year rumors circled that it was Doris Day's turn but that didn't turn out to be accurate. For the past two years, The Film Experience has tried to make up for the dearth of movie site reporting about the Oscar Honorary careers (beyond the sharing of press releases / YouTube videos of their speeches) with mini-retrospectives so we're always hoping they'll choose well to give us wonderful careers to discuss right here.
Let's reprint a list of worthies we shared a year or so ago, with a few adjustments, in case any of the elites in the Academy are undecided about who to put forth or get behind for these coveted honors.
James Ivory (left) is still with us though his filmmaking and life partner Ismail Merchant (right) died 11 years ago. Oscar rarely honors LGBT giants and he's 100% HONORARY OSCAR WORTHY WITH MULTIPLE BEST PICTURE NOMINEES79 SUGGESTIONS FOR HONORARIES
None of whom have Oscars or honoraries but many of whom have been nominated
Voice To The Stars:
Marni Nixon... this is a dream but an impossible one. There's no branch to advocate for her but she'd be more than worthy having contributed so much to an entire genre: the movie musical.
Directors
James Ivory would be an ideal choice at 88 years of age. He's still with us but his partner (Ismail Merchant) has already passed away and together they made movies that Oscar outright adored. It would also be a nod to the LGBT community which the Academy really ought to make nice with given their history. What's the hold up, honestly? He'd be a PERFECT choice.
Others: Mike Leigh, David Lynch, Werner Herzog, Agnes Varda, Jan Troell, or David Cronenberg. more suggestions follow...
Actresses Catherine Deneuve is our most fervent dream these days. She's still working and still challenging herself and that filmography is gorgeous and long-lasting and has an enviable number of classics in it.
Other great options: Liv Ullmann, Glynis Johns, Jeanne Moreau, Doris Day, Glenn Close, Mia Farrow, Pam Grier (defined a whole subgenre!) or Gong Li (stellar acting and filmography and they NEVER honor Asian actors). But we'd like to take this moment to thank AMPAS profusely for actually forcing us to change this list up about, having recently honored two of our most frequent suggestions: Debbie Reynolds & Maureen O'Hara.
Casting Directors: Lynn Stalmaster, Juliet Taylor, Ellen Lewis
Producers Kathleen Kennedy, Ridley Scott, Zhang Yimou, Carlos Saura
Actors Albert Finney, Max Von Sydow, Sir Ian Holm, Sir Ian McKellen, Donald Sutherland, Harrison Ford , and James Caan
Costume Designers Penny Rose (egregiously never nominated), Anna B Sheppard, Julie Weiss, Jeffrey Kurland, or Bob Mackie.
Michael Ballhaus's amazing work spans several classics from Rainer Werner Fassbender to Martin Scorsese and richly beautiful 80s films like The Fabulous Baker Boys
Cinematographers Michael Ballhaus, who is 80 years old, is our favorite option here -- that filmography is splendid and international and he's been nominated three times and he basically retired with the Best Picture winner The Departed (2006). But there's also Roger Deakins and Allen Daviau. They waited too long on our Douglas Slocombe suggestion and he passed away around Oscar time earlier this year.
Production Designer Jeannine Oppenwall
Sound Kevin O'Connell, Michael J Kohut, Greg P. Russell
Editor Richard Marks, Sally Menke (posthumously... Tarantino's movies have never been the same since)
Makeup Edouard F Henriques, Aldo Signoretti
Music Diane Warren, Thomas Newman, Danny Elfman, Philip Glass, or Angelo Badalementi
Documentaries: Frederick Wiseman, Steve James, Michael Apted, or Werner Herzog
Finally...
Though we don't normally approve of and often are outright puzzled by Oscars willingness to give Honorarys to people who've already won -- some more than once! -- we would understand honoraries for the following two win since their wins came very early in incredible careers.
Anne V Coates with Ethan Hawke recently Photo Source
Anne V Coates -Editor, won for Lawrence of Arabia. Much brilliant work thereafter including Soderbergh classics
Julie Andrews -Actress, won for her debut. Bonafide classics followed. Beloved by multiple generations.
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Reader Comments (66)
Danny Glover for the Jean Hersholt. His devotion to humanitarian causes involving the global poor is unmatched by any other living actor you could name.
Glenn Close because my mind can rest easy knowing she won't die Oscar-less. Shelley Duvall since she's likely permanently retired.
Paul Verhoeven and Brian De Palma for directors deserving of honorary honors.
Peter Weir.
I'd love to see Pam Grier, Juliet Taylor, or Kathleen Kennedy; however, my number one choice has to be James Ivory. Howard's End increases in my estimation every time I watch it!
Lily Tomlin!!
Samuel L. Jackson. Seriously.
Oh Patrick, good choice.
Samuel L Jackson has not had a worthy performance since 1997 (Eve's Bayou and Jackie Brown).
Spike Lee was recognized last year, and James Ivory would make a great choice this year.
Doris Day for acting. She won't live forever and deserves the recognition.
Heartily agree with James Ivory. Without him, we would arguably not have Helena Bonham Carter or Emma Thompson as we know them.
Liv Ullman
Max von Sydow
Thalberg: Kathleen Kennedy
Humanitarian: Vanessa Redgrave
Or
Alain Delon
Catherine Deneuve
Thalberg: Zhang Yimou
Humanitarian: Ian McKellen
Or
Albert Finney
Julie Andrews
Thalberg: Ridley Scott
Humanitarian: Mia Farrow
Or
Glenn Close
Gary Oldman
Werner Herzog
Humanitarian: Danny Glover
Xuxa Meneghel, a brazillian goddes
/3rtful: It's really a miracle if any actor is argued, by anyone, as worthy of nomination more than once or twice. Now consider that Samuel L. Jackson has been argued worthy of nomination FIVE TIMES. (Jungle Fever, Pulp Fiction, Eve's Bayou, Jackie Brown, Django Unchained.) And THEN consider that Samuel L. Jackson's film career, in earnest, started a little late (depending on when you mark it, somewhere from 39-41 years old, when men usually start getting the really big roles about 10-12 years (27-31) before that). And, on top of those two things, consider that he's black, which means he doesn't get as many truly meaty opportunities as white actors anyway. Throw in A LOT of very good, but not really nomination worthy, work elevating genre pieces of varying overall quality (Just based on what I've seen: Die Hard 3, Unbreakable, xXx, The Incredibles, Coach Carter, Snakes on a Plane and Nick Fury in multiple MCU productions) and he's EASILY worth an honorary Oscar.
I would go with
James Ivory
Jeanne Moreau
Michael Ballhaus
but your list is full with so many inspired choices: Lynn Stalmaster, Juliet Taylor, Penny Rose, Frederick Wiseman...
P.S. Carlos Saura is mainly a director.
I understand the urgency to recognize people approaching 100 but I wish they'd clear the backlog so that people like Glenn Close and Sigourney Weaver could squeeze in sooner rather than later. Look at Steve Martin—he'll get to enjoy his Oscar statuette for decades. It's a shame that winners win these prizes and then die five minutes later. Seems predictable that Sigourney will get one five days before her 98th birthday.
People in their prime deserve to be recognized. If we're honest, Tilda is due for an Honorary Oscar any year now for the sheer volume of creative, exquisite work she does outside Oscar's radar.
I think they decline to give awards to people under 65 because 1) they "still have time" to win competitively and 2) it rubs the Academy's nose in their mistakes. Those are both really stupid reasons.
Thank you for supporting Kevin O'Connell. He should have won by now. I truly believe that your endless support and urging helped get Maureen O'Hara and Gena, and Debbie their Oscars.
i would give the awards to:
Kevin O'Connell- for the non headliner, but 20 noms and no wins
Honorary- Doris Day- She is a box office star bu the honorary might mean more to her.
Gong Li- she has majorly contributed to global cinema and honoring her would help introduce a new audience to her work as well as Asian cinema.
I would love to have Mia Farrow to get one. However her longstanding enmity and personal history( understandably so) with Woody Allen means they can't pay tribute to her without mentioning her filmography (in which a substantial Portion are Allen films). And a big part of her cinematic career is remembered significantly due to her roles in his films. Maybe she will get the Jean Hersholt.
Angela Lansbury
A huge yes for Doris Day, absurd that she's been bypassed.
Also long overdue the bewitching Glynis Johns & Joan Plowright. Ditto Cicely Tyson.
I'd say Charlotte Rampling but she's still in the game as are Glenn Close and Sigourney Weaver. On the men's side Donald Sutherland is in the same situation but how about just getting him a freaking nomination for a start!
Internationally beside the divine Deneuve-Danielle Darrieux (the woman is 99 for crying out loud how much longer will they have a chance!) & Leslie Caron
Ridley Scott. Brian De Palma (never gonna happen). Carlos Saura.
As I remember, it's not that Doris Day has never been considered. The point is that she has refused to attend the ceremony or even tape a thank-you comment. She is THAT much of a recluse and does not want to show herself, a la Garbo.
Marcos -- to me that's not a good enough reason to deny someone. They gave it to Godard recently knowing that he wouldn't show. But he's a man other men worship.
Nat: I agree with you. I'm not saying that it is a valid reason. Greta Garbo received an Honorary Award without showing up either. I'm just relating what happened I believe 8 or 10 years ago.
Gong LI seems too young in my opinion, but any of the other actresses seems appropriate.
Can we finally give Kathleen Kennedy the Thalberg though? She's overdue at this point, and it's ridiculous no woman has ever won it.
Actress: Liv Ullmann, Gong Li, Maggie Cheung, Lily Tomlin, and Pam Grier... My God. Them!
Director: Mike Leigh, Wong Kar Wai, Lars von Trier
DORIS DAY....make the whole show about her!
I'm with Suzanne, Peter Weir is an excellent choice.
Angela Lansbury
She already has one.
Without a doubt Doris Day
Sally Menke (posthumously... Tarantino's movies have never been the same since)
Isn't it their policy to avoid posthumous honors? Django is poorly edited but I refuse to blame his current editor.
Doris Day deserves an Honorary Oscar, Grammy *and* Emmy for Christ's sake! I'm so glad AMPAS honored Gena Rowlands last year, and hope that Mia Farrow is on deck. But my intuition tells me she'll get the humanitarian award and call it a (doris) day.
P.S. James Ivory should've won an Oscar for Howard's End. That loss still stings.
I heard somewhere Mia Farrow forbids people who give her honorary awards from mentioning her work with Woody Allen which is of course is 90% of her film career.
Mia Farrow is bound to have the Jean Hersholt I guess, I mean Oprah has one and the real honorary might not come considering Woody.
HARRISON FORD AND GLENN CLOSE!!!!!
Speaking of posthumous, it tickles me about THELMA RITTER. girl deserves it and y'all know it.
Sigourney Weaver too, and of course Samuel L Jackson.
VANESSA REDGRAVE for anything again! I miss her so much.
I want women that are not actresses!
What about Lina Wertmuller? She's 87 and was fhe first woman to be nominated for best director ever.
Agnes Varda worked a lot in US and got a DGA nomination.
Or maybe a writer, like Elaine May?
Oh my gosh YES to the James Ivory call. It would be perfect on so many levels, especially with his masterpiece, Howards End, coming back to cinemas this year in a reportedly beautiful restoration. There are other directors you mention whose work I admire more than Ivory's (Lynch, Herzog, Cronenberg), but they are all still working at the top of their game and have a shot at a regular nomination, whereas Ivory's contribution is historical and absolutely worthy of recognition. As you say, it would be a great way for the Academy to show some love for the LGBT community without having to step outside their comfort zone because those Merchant-Ivory movies still hold up as the Gold Standard for period adaptations, one of the ultimate Oscar-bait genres.
"It's a shame that winners win these prizes and then die five minutes later."
I lol'd
Jan Troell, Max Von Sydow, Liv Ullmann
Albert Finney and Marsha Mason
Joel6-- Wait, Donald Sutherland has never received an Oscar nomination? What kind of world is this?
Doris Day - YES! Just watched Move Over Darling on Netflix with one of my kids (her first DD film) and she said "Wow, that's Doris Day? She's adorable." Transcending the generations. And it doesn't matter if she doesn't show up cuz they don't televise that part now anyway...
Re Weaver and Close--they are both pretty busy actresses in film and on stage, and 67 is the new 47. No need for honorary Oscars now (I think Steve Martin's and Spike Lee's were kind of dumb too--they're SUPER busy); I predict they'll both get one in the next 5-10 years. Always thought Streep got the AFI way too early, even though it was one of the very best tributes in terms of speeches and comedy, but she's made like 12 films since then (albeit not that many good ones).
I would be *thrilled* to see any of James Ivory, Ian Holm, Catherine Deneuve, Glynis Johns, and Angelo Badalementi receive the honor.
Judy Davis, Liv Ullmann, Max Von Sydow, Martin Sheen.
Craver: I agree wholeheartedly with you about Thelma Ritter and other Oscarless supporting players. I believe one of the ceremonies should be dedicated to Supporting Actors. Maybe they could award 4 posthumous awards (or call them something else, eg certificates of recognition) to be kept by the Academy in their Museum. These are my candidates:
Thelma Ritter, Gladys Cooper, Claude Rains and Arthur Kennedy.
They could be presented by actors like Catherine Keener, Patricia Clarkson, Chris Cooper and Morgan Freeman, who could make a brief introduction of each recepient.
It's got to be Doris Day of course. She is by far the biggest box-office star of anyone mentioned. And I've got to believe the Academy doesn't care THAT much if she doesn't want to appear, I mean they gave Hepburn and Woody Allen a boatload of Oscars and those two pretty much hated the awards ceremonies.
And I'd like to throw out my yearly pitch to any network (PBS? TCM?) willing to put together a yearly tribute to the honorary Oscars. An hourlong retrospective look back. Do it for the Emmys if nothing else! :-)
Judy Davis, Liv Ullmann, Max Von Sydow, Martin Sheen
Sore reminder that Tomei's Oscar was premature.
Or maybe a writer, like Elaine May?
One thing we agree on.
This often becomes such a heated subject but I think James Ivory is a BRILLIANT choice. He seems perfect for an Honorary Oscar - since he helped create a whole genre of film - remember the Merchant/Ivory brand? Wonderful films.
I ADORE Doris Day but for some reason I just don't feel the Honorary Oscar for her. But Catherine Deneuve is also a BRILLIANT CHOICE.
I also like the idea of Max Von Sydow. He was a symbol of a certain brilliant foreign film actor for years and years - truly a famous and well respected star who performed brilliantly many many times.
I seem stuck on the word brilliant, huh? I guess it's appropriate here.
And I LOVE the idea of Kathleen Kennedy - again, a professional who defined a large segment of film making.
And from what you say it seems Michael Ballhaus truly deserves it too.
I agree with Pam - both Weaver and Close are working actors and I think they still have time and roles to do that could very well allow them to win an Oscar without going Honorary.
/3rtful, Samuel L. Jackson gave one of the best comedic performances recently in Kingsmen. That movie is highly entertaining, but his performance was way above and beyond anyone else, including his lisping.
Doris Day. End of discussion.
@Pam
I disagree these actresses will be competitive for actual wins if either one is nominated again. Sure Close earned an elusive nomination after being denied for her work two consecutive decades after the 80's. And Weaver does not seem to be well liked and somehow she's very underrated not simply in the denial of nominations but just the conversations people have of great actresses. In the UK she's still very well regarded based on the Alien franchise shooting the first three movies at Pinewood. They were also lovely enough to make her a BAFTA winner in supporting actress for The Ice Storm. I don't want either woman succumbing before they can receive this overdue recognition. They're simply not beloved the way Streep and Lange are. Or the foreigners who sometimes are more regarded than their American counterparts.
Finney. Seriously overlooked. Moreau's a great idea. Others:
John Boorman
Richard Lester
Werner Herzog
Terrence Malick
Wim Wenders
Peter Greenaway
Jim Jarmusch
Isabelle Huppert
Posthumous? Marilyn Monroe, Rosalind Russell.