The Academy Awards claim to “recognize excellence in cinematic achievements in the United States film industry as assessed by the Academy’s voting membership.” But I don’t buy it. If the Academy really wanted to acknowledge the “best” that the big screen has to offer, Jackie Chan would have like 76 Oscars by now. No one’s better at kicking butt than Chan, the star of Armour of God, Drunken Master, Rush Hour, Kung Fu Panda, Twin Dragons, Police Story 3: Super Cop, Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars, Hand of Death, and 1,239 other movies, all with great titles. But to date, Chan has more MTV Movie Awards for Rush Hour 2 alone than he does Oscar nominations.
Thankfully, the Academy realized they’ve made a huge mistake, and Chan, along with acclaimed film editor Anne V. Coates, casting director Lynn Stalmaster, and documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman, will receive an honorary award at the Governors Awards this November. “The Honorary Award was created for artists like Jackie Chan, Anne Coates, Lynn Stalmaster, and Frederick Wiseman – true pioneers and legends in their crafts,” said Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs, according to the Hollywood Reporter. “The Board is proud to honor their extraordinary achievements, and we look forward to celebrating with them at the Governors Awards in November.”
This doesn’t make up for Dragon Lord not winning Best Picture, but it helps.
(Via the Hollywood Reporter)
