They say good things come to those who wait, right? Somehow, I don’t think Jackie Chan ever thought he’d have the title of Oscar winner, but now all that has changed. The 62-year-old actor, who hasn’t really aged all that much, accepted an honorary Oscar at the 8th Annual Governors Awards at the Hollywood and Highland Center on Saturday night.
Tom Hanks, Michelle Yeoh, and Chris Tucker were on hand to honor their colleague. Tom was delighted to honor him for his work in martial arts and action-packed comedic films, two genres he said were “historically underrepresented” at the Oscars. That’s sweet to say, Tom, but somehow I fail to see Shanghai Noon grabbing any gold statuettes away from, say, American Beauty, the film that won Best Picture that year. But nice sentiment anyway.
Tom went on to compare Jackie to silent film comedian Buster Keaton and to John Wayne, making sure to add, “But Jackie does something that neither of those great screen legends were ever able to do: Neither one of those great artists ever, ever put the bloopers on during the closing credits.” He’s definitely right about that. The bloopers at the end of Rumble in the Bronx are pretty awesome, and the tune is so damn catchy. (It’s called “Kung Fu” and it’s by the band Ash. Thanks, Google.)
Jackie had a charming acceptance speech, as if he were capable of doing anything else. He told the audience that “Standing here is a dream. After 56 years in the film industry, making more than 200 films, breaking so many bones, finally this is mine.” He went on to say,
“My dad always said, ‘Son, you get so many movie awards in the world, when are you going to get one of these [Oscars]?’ Then I just look at my dad. ‘Ha, ha, ha. Dad, I only make comedy action movies.'”
“I want to thank you, Hong Kong, such an incredible city, my hometown, my hood, who make me,” Chan continued. “China, my country, I am proud to be Chinese. Thank you, Hollywood, for all of those years teaching me so many things, and also [for making] me a little bit famous. I’m just honored to be here.”
The whole speech just proves what a beloved star Jackie Chan really is. And he’s just so sweet, despite molesting friend Sylvester Stallone’s Oscar when he saw it in his house. See the speech below. It’s well worth it.
I love that he loves his fans and promises to keep on “jumping through windows, kicking and punching,” and “breaking [his] bones” for us. Back in the late 80s/early 90s, I couldn’t get enough of Jackie Chan’s martial arts flicks. I loved Rumble in the Bronx and Super Cop. His combat choreography was always dazzling, so it’s nice that Hollywood has finally acknowledged his talents. Congrats, Jackie.
Photo credit: Getty Images, Fame Flynet
A superb choice for an honorary Oscar. While his films are not the “prestige” films the Academy would normally honor they’ve reached and been enjoyed by more people than many Oscar winners ever will. They make people happy, nothing wrong with that.
I totally agree with you @Mia4S, there’s a lot of prejudice against comedy movies and comedy actors when it is a hard choice of acting, it’s not easy to be funny and it’s mostly overlooked against “real” acting when it’s the movies that take more people to the theatres and those you end up watching many times and having fun.
Hear, hear!
Is “prestige” a nice word for melodrama? Or big budget tear-jerker? That’s what the Oscars seem to love.
@bettyR big budget tear jerker lmao 😀
+10000
Love Jackie Chan’s movies. His athleticism is unreal while still entertaining his audience. His speech is great; awesome that he mentioned how proud he is to be Chinese!
I totally agree with you!
Exactly. To me he will always be the quintessential movie star.
Agreed! His movies may not be super artistic, but he has worked just as hard an any other artist to hone his craft. So happy to hear this. My husband and I love Jackie Chan! Congratulations to him.
Great, he’s such an icon.
Im not huge on movie fights but Jackies choreography was always impressive and very funny too and he did all that himself!
Yes, take that Jason Statham since you want to put down actors who don’t do their own stunts. Jackie does his stunts ten times better than you. And it’s apparent that Jason doesn’t do all his stunts because he is insured. They won’t insure Jackie for the simple reason all his stunts are done by him.
Deserved as he has had a great career and has entertained us all for many years. He’s done a lot for the HK movie industry, which is vastly underrated in my humble opinion – the quality of some of the movies, scripts, photography, cinematography, acting and directing could put many of HW’s big players to shame. HW has been nicking their storylines for years – The Departed is a rip off of Infernal Affairs (one of my fave movies).
THIS
Hongkong movies are so underrated.
Love Jackie Chan so much, my husband is even in a Fanclub.
AFFAIRS were Platinum Standard, the Departed were cheap shit in relation even though they have been way more expansive.
You’re right, there are so many global films in the world, but they only get squeezed into one category at the Oscars.
I really do wish that world cinema got its due.
That’s a very American -centric thought. Countries make their own films and TV for their own people. Countries have their own awards. To think that America needs to award films and Tv not made for them is condecending to those countries, they don’t need their “due” from the US.
I’m no expert on his career, and movies like Rush Hour aren’t usually Oscar bait, but this is well deserved. Pulling off martial arts comedy with mainstream appeal can’t be easy.
Whilst i think Jackie Chan has entertained us for a long time, if we are going to give a token Oscar to an actor from Hong Kong, Tony Leung is the person i’d give it to.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0504897/?ref_=tt_cl_t1
His success isn’t limited to one genre like Jackie Chan, and his films make serious bank in the west without having to be remade into English versions. And some have been re-made by Hollywood to amazing success.
I’m still gutted he didn’t get any noms for Lust, Caution. He’s an amazing actor.
I love that movie.
I’ve been known to watch his films on the strength of his name alone. No need to be told plot or see trailer.
Speaking of fabulous Asian films albight this one is from Korea, i’m recommending THE HANDMAIDEN to everyone. The trailer isn’t helpful because it looks like an extended perfume ad, but my goodness this film delivers.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wKpZLtt4Ctg
@Lak – thanks for the tip, will look out for it on Netflix. They have a Chinese and Korean section that, admittedly, isn’t very large. My soft spot is Asian horror movies.
I agree! Tony has been my childhood dream guy forever!
Oh I read about The Handmaiden! It’s based on a book I love called Fingersmiths. The original story is set in the U.K. But apparently it works so well transplanted into Korea.
I consider myself a bit of an intellectual and in doing so, I can sometimes be kind of a snob when it comes to books and film. That being said, I freaking LOVE “Rush Hour.”
Oh good choice. His movies aren’t the most intellectual, but sometimes you need chicken noodle soup, not a tasting menu.
Rush Hour is great for that. I think I’m going to watch it tonight in honour of the excellent Mr Chan.
Go Jackie!!
I LOVE this guy. He’s not half bad in dramatic roles either.
…he may be humble but his sprogs get into fairly standard over entitled escapades…
Congratulations to Jackie Chan. I love his movies.
I’m a huge Jackie Chan fan my favorite movies are Project A and Police Story.
Eh, not a fan of Jackie as a person. I’ve watched a lot of Jackie Chan movies growing up (HK version, not US). They were ok. However, he sucks as a person. He kept denying he had a wife for 20 years (she was the famous Taiwanese 70’s actress, Joan Lin). He was a serial cheater until he knocked up some D-list actress. All of a sudden he acknowledges he had a loving wife. His son, Jaycee, was arrested in China for drug possession. For awhile there was talk that he’d get the death penalty (Yeah China isn’t kidding about drug pushing). However because of Jackie’s connections, Jaycee was able to leave prison after two years.
Yes, this was widely documented in the Chinese press – which I can read every single word of it. I’m sure if you googled it, there’s english translations available.
…lol…you said it…basically Anyone Except Cruise….
Aw good for him he deserves that Oscar. Over 200 films? WOW! I knew he had done a lot but that is crazy!