Kevin Costner honored at AARP Movies for Grownups Awards Gala
The event: Child stars, octogenarians, actors, directors, producers and others spanning all ages packed the ballroom Monday at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel for the 2015 AARP Movies for Grownups Awards Gala. AARP provides information, advocacy and services to adults 50 and over.
The program: John Leguizamo hosted the affair, which honored Kevin Costner and named “The Theory of Everything” the year’s best picture. Among other awards, Julianne Moore received the lead actress award for “Still Alice,” Steve Carell was honored in the lead actor category for “Foxcatcher” and Richard Linklater took the directing award for “Boyhood.” Awards for supporting roles went to Rene Russo for “Nightcrawler” and J.K. Simmons for “Whiplash.”
The crowd: Chris Pratt, Felicity Jones, Eddie Redmayne, Jon Favreau, Maria Shriver, Rick Springfield, George Takei, Patricia Arquette, Octavia Spencer, Jeremy Irons, Laura Dern, Jaeden Lieberher, Emjay Anthony, Ken Howard and John Ratzenberger and more familiar faces stepped onto the stage to present or accept awards.
Wendie Malick and Penelope Ann Miller gave their introduction to “Land Ho!” -- named best buddy movie -- in matching red cocktail frocks.
“You told me you weren’t going to wear the red dress,” Miller quipped.
Also spotted were Margo Martindale, Jane Seymour, Christopher McDonald, Bruce Boxleitner, Alex Meneses and Dame Joan Collins, the title newly conferred on the glamorous “Dynasty” actress in 2015. There, too, from AARP were chief executive Jo Ann Jenkins, foundation President Lisa Marsh Ryerson and AARP magazine editor in chief Bob Love.
The remarks: Favreau, producer/director of “Chef,” expressed appreciation for the clunky clear trophy he received for best comedy, which could double as a magnifying glass. “Now I can read the menu,” said the under-50 actor, vowing to join the organization in two years.
Shriver called “Still Alice” magical, before presenting Moore’s award, saying, “Her incredible performance has left all of us who are children of Alzheimer’s moved, humbled and so very grateful.”
Speaking of “The Lego Movie,” named best movie for grownups who refuse to grow up, Pratt -- the voice of the film’s hero -- also expressed his delight at the success of “Guardians of the Galaxy,” pointing out that, “Incidentally in both films I did all my own stunts.”
An emotional Russo declared herself “a virgin recipient,” as she gushed from the podium, “This is my first award ever.”
In accepting his career achievement award at evening’s end, Costner spoke to his own generation, the baby boomers, reminding them of their activism, their years of protest and their goals to make the world a better place.
“The times, they really were a-changing, and the torch seemed like it was in our hands,” Costner said. “The air was filled with our music. The films were about us. There was Woodstock. It was the Age of Aquarius. There were promises made and we were going to change the world. I think we still can .… We still are the boomers .… We have a chance to still go out with a bang.”
The numbers: Proceeds exceeding $100,000 from event sponsorships will benefit the AARP Foundation, which helps older adults in need of nutritious food, affordable housing and personal connections with a goal of eradicating hunger in L.A.’s senior population.
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