Al Pacino wins the AFI Awards with an Off-the-Cuff Speech
While most kudos events can be won competitively, there is an annual AFI Awards21 TV and film work were recognized by the. Sarah Polley chatted with Michelle Williams, Jerry Bruckheimer was deep in conversation with James Cameron, the “Better Call Saul” talent huddled with “Reservation Dogs” and Steven Spielberg enthused about “The Bear” to the show’s team and FX’s John Landgraf.
The Four Seasons Beverly Hills hosted a Jan. 13 luncheon with 250 industry leaders. But the scene-stealer, however, was someone who was not attached to any of the honored works. Al PacinoThe event was closed out by the keynote speaker, a speech lasting ten minutes that appeared rambling but funny, but which proved to be sharp and ended with a bang.
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Universal Pictures chairperson Donna Langley praised the annual event before it began. Variety, saying: “It reminds us of the dignity and elegance of the industry as we gather here to celebrate artistry.”
In December, AFI announced its honorees for “notable achievements” in 2022. Films cited were “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Elvis,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” “The Fabelmans,” “Nope,” “She Said,” “Tar,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” “The Woman King” and “Women Talking.” For TV: “Abbott Elementary,” “The Bear,” “Better Call Saul,” “Hacks,” “Mo,” “Pachinko,” “Reservation Dogs,” “Severance,” “Somebody Somewhere” and “The White Lotus.” “The Banshees of Inisherin” received an AFI Special Award, since the traditional honors — chosen by two juries, for film and for TV — only go to American works.
The program started after the salmon was served. Bob Gazzale, AFI prez-CEO, asked for a moment to remember those honorees who have suffered a recent loss. He didn’t mention “Elvis” or the Jan. 12 death of Lisa Marie Presley; he didn’t have to. He said “This event was founded in community, not competition” and he wanted the team “to feel we are here for them.”
Since 2003, the format has remained the same. One of the judges reads the “rationale” for each honoree (i.e., the reason it was selected) followed by a one-minute clip. Ann Hornaday, a member of the film jury, and Rich Frank, TV jury chief, read Friday’s rationales. The crowd’s reactions can sometimes give a surprising insight into the Oscar race favorites, but applause was evenly divided.
The event traditionally ends with a benediction — a solemn toast — but Pacino rewrote the rule book. He was there to observe the 50th anniversary of “The Godfather.” He said he had prepared remarks, but after watching all the clips and thinking about the great work, he was throwing those remarks out. “What I have to say is so weird… I’m shaking, look at my hands!” What followed were observations and anecdotes about being a nominee and going through “the stages of grief” when he was Oscar-nominated for “Serpico.” His speech seemed ad-libbed and formless, though consistently hilarious and entertaining, and he wrapped with the idea that artists are not hard-wired for competition.
Nick Meyer, Sierra/Infinity told Variety “This is my favorite event of the year,” while Warner Bros. Pictures CEO Mike De Luca said “There’s no competition, just recognition of great work,” and that the event was a chance to reconnect with people you hadn’t seen in awhile.
Jean Picker Firstenberg (ex-AFI director-CEO), Gail Berman and Todd Field were among the notables present. Vince Gilligan, Baz Luhmann, Martin McDonagh and Jordan Peele were also there. Ted Sarandos, Ben Stiller, Mike White, and Ted Sarandos were also there.
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