Contempt

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Jean-Luc Godard's girlfriend and partner Anne-Marie Mieville has explained to The Australian's Matthew Campbell and John Follain why the legendary French director will not be personally accepting his special Oscar. "Jean-Luc won't go to America," she says, largely because he won't be given the award on the Oscar show itself, but at some piddly pre-Oscar event in November.

Bottom line: You don't relegate the great Jean-Luc Godard to a side-show. For what it's worth, I agree. I'd tell the Academy to shove it also.

"'He just told me, 'It's not the Oscars,' Mieville says, referring to Godard's reaction on learning about the award. 'At first he thought it was going to be part of the same ceremony, then he realized it was a separate thing in November.'

"Not that it would make any difference, she says. 'He's getting old for that kind of thing. Would you go all that way just for a bit of metal?'"

Answer: Yes, Godard would go all that way if he was assured of a golden gleaming moment on the actual Oscar telecast.

"Mieville says it is likelier that 'someone from his production team' will be there to represent Godard, and she rejects suggestions that his silence is a snub to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences or a reflection of his well-documented scorn for Hollywood values.

"'He will reply to the letter,' Mieville says."

When...in November? Godard is right to blow the Academy off, but he's obviously doing so without showing much respect. Not replying to a formal invitation in a timely fashion is an unmistakable "eff you" in any culture or social situation.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on September 6, 2010 at 8:44 AM

comment #1

corey3rd says ...

It's not like Godard won't be allowed to go to the ceremony and be recognized during the broadcast. Judging from last year's dinner, it was much more enjoyable and entertaining with a crowd that wasn't saying, "hurray up" we got a musical number before announcing Best Screenplay Written by a Hedgehog.

Posted by corey3rd at September 6, 2010 9:16 AM

comment #2

Noiresque says ...

The worst Oscar changes ever is when they delivered the awards in the audience, and in some cases, brought all of the nominees on stage.

Posted by Noiresque at September 6, 2010 10:31 AM

comment #3

erniesouchak says ...

The Gov Awards ceremony is a really lovely event (I was lucky to attend last year), but Godard has a point, and it's one that others have made. Shunting these "special" awards off to the side is a concession to the TV audience, and that seems to be the Academy's priority.

Posted by erniesouchak at September 6, 2010 2:16 PM

comment #4

Gabe@ThePlaylist says ...

Respect? He's Jean Luc Ma'Fuckin' Godard. He doesn't owe anyone respect. Maybe he saw that wrongheaded John Hughes tribute made it onto the show last year. Fuck the Academy.

Posted by Gabe@ThePlaylist at September 6, 2010 2:49 PM

comment #5

Jeffrey Wells says ...

Total agreement.

Posted by Jeffrey Wells at September 6, 2010 3:01 PM

comment #6

Bob Violence says ...

pretty far from convinced he would show up either way, he blew off the European Academy just a few years ago and that was practically in his own backyard

Posted by Bob Violence at September 6, 2010 3:26 PM

comment #7