Rene Russo Honors Kevin Costner at Critics’ Choice Awards, With Help From a Very Fast Talker
At last night’s Critics’ Choice Awards, Nightcrawler star Rene Russo presented Kevin Costner with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Unfortunately, she was beset with a bad case of laryngitis, so A&E (who broadcast the ceremony) came up with a novel solution: Storage Wars auctioneer Dan Dotson came onstage to read off a full list of movies and TV shows in which Costner has appeared. And that, friends, is how Waterworld came to be mentioned at the Critics’ Choice Awards. Watch the video above!
In other memorable Critics’ Choice moments, Emily Blunt walked away with the award for best actress in an action movie – but not before receiving an adorable surprise hug from husband John Krasinski. The former star of The Office was waiting in the wings to present the Best Animated Feature award, and couldn’t resist storming the stage to congratulate his wife. (Watch the video below.) Blunt, who won for her physically demanding performance in Edge of Tomorrow, thanked Krasinski in her speech “for being okay with the fact that he was married to a veiny, sinewy wrestler for the duration of this film.” She also clued in the audience to Krasinski’s secret fear that he’d wake up one morning to find his action-star wife bench-pressing him.
On a more serious note, MVP Award winner Jessica Chastain took a moment in her speech to acknowledge the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., and urge the artists in the room to stand up to discrimination and fear. “I’m an optimist. And I can’t help but feel hopeful about the future of film, especially looking at all these beautiful people in this room,” said the Most Violent Year star. “Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.’ And I would like to encourage everyone in this room to please speak up.” Chastain’s speech (below) was met with applause from the star-studded audience, and an approving nod from Selma producer and costar Oprah Winfrey.
