Governors Awards Kick Off Oscar Race

Things well and truly kicked off at the weekend with just over 100 days until the 86th Academy Awards, as the board of governors handed out a few honorary awards. The most high-profile recipient of the evening included Angelina Jolie, the youngest ever winner of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. Based on her tireless charitable efforts few criticisms can be made of this, but the awards are not really about her or Steve Martin or Angela Landsbury. The Governors Awards are an opportunity for stars, directors, publicists, and anyone else with vested interests in Oscar contenders to schmooze with voters in a totally legitimate way.

There is a much lengthier article on Deadline which is worth a read, but all the big films were represented, with a few even wangling some of their potential nominees on stage to introduce their friends and colleagues, such as Emma Thompson who will be looking for a Leading Actress nomination as P. L. Travers in Saving Mr. Banks. The Weinsteins were also out in force, with films including The Butler and August: Osage County primed for a big campaign, but for once The Weinstein Company could really struggle with 12 Years a Slave and Gravity looking set to dominate.

However, this is where Harvey comes into his element, and now that the Governors Awards have really kicked things off anything could happen, so watch this space…