Michael Douglas was initially confused. The star of Fatal Attraction and many other films told the crowd, while being honoured with a career achievement award by the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards at Monday’s glitzy ceremony, that his assistant mistakenly told him he was receiving an award for his work in adult films.
“I remember all my films,” joked Douglas after receiving a standing ovation. “I don’t remember any adult films.”
The newspaper drama Spotlight was selected as best picture at the 15th annual ceremony presented by the advocacy group AARP to stars over the age of 50 and the films that speak to that demographic.
“I think when we set out to make this movie, we weren’t thinking about whether it was for kids or for grown-ups,” said Spotlight filmmaker Tom McCarthy. “Collectively, we understood that it was a story we had to tell. It was that important. We hoped it would reach everybody who needed to hear it.”
Mark Rylance was chosen as best supporting actor for Bridge of Spies, while Bryan Cranston won the best actor trophy for Trumbo.
“I’m delighted to be here tonight — and not just because my AARP gives me a deep discount on the parking,” said Cranston.
Lily Tomlin was honoured as best actress for Grandma, while Diane Ladd was awarded the best supporting actress for Joy. In her speech, Ladd took issue with the competitive race for supporting actress at this year’s Academy Awards, which she is not among.
“I’m a little ticked off that the studios with greed put stars in films in the best supporting Oscar category,” said Ladd. “That’s not right. Rooney Mara won the best actress category at Cannes (for Carol). Why is she in my supporting category?”
At the beginning of night, show host Kathy Griffin joked that #OscarsSoYoung should be trending on Twitter and that she felt comfortable mocking youngsters at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel ceremony.
“As a comic, there’s only so many groups I can make fun of anymore because everyone is so sensitive, but in this room, I can really talk [expletive] about millennials,” said Griffin.
Other winners on Monday included The Intern as best comedy, Love & Mercy as best time capsule, The Last Man on the Moon as best documentary, Learning to Drive as best buddy picture, 5 Flights Up as best grown-up love story, Rams as best foreign film, Inside Out for best movie for grown-ups who refuse to grow up and Creed as best intergenerational film.
“I’m one of those weird millennials,” said Creed director Ryan Coogler during his acceptance speech, which he joking left Sylvester Stallone out of in a nod to the Rocky star not thanking him at the Golden Globes.
Other attendees at Monday’s star-studded ceremony included Morgan Freeman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bette Midler, Patricia Clarkson, June Squibb, Phylicia Rashad, Elizabeth Banks, Mark Ruffalo and Dick Van Dyke.
“I expected to see a lot of old people here,” joked Van Dyke. “I’m 90. I’m probably like the oldest person in this room!”
