Cinema Vanguard Award (Amy Adams, 2013)

Reviewed by Melanie McComb
The Santa Barbara International film festival was very pleased to present The Cinema Vanguard award to actress Amy Adams this year. The Cinema Vanguard awarded is given to actors who take risks and make bold character choices: the chameleons of cinema. The ceremony opened with a compilation of Amy Adam’s work from the early stages of her career to the present and it was a very impressive body of work. The moderator of the night was Pete Hammond and gave a flattering introduction of Amy before she came out onto the stage.

The interview portion had an interesting format. There would be a series of questions and then a clip. Amy would then discuss her opinions and point of view. During the interview Amy was shy and did not relish in being flattered; she consistently paid credit to her directors and being lucky. Her humility was very charming. The moderator failed to keep a steady pace throughout the interview. There were many dead moments and I feel had he been more aware of pacing and a need for high energy, the audiences attention would not have drifted as often.
One of the most incredible moments of the night was when Amy was asked about her role in the film Junebug, her first Oscar nominated performance. Her character has a miscarriage in the film and Amy became very emotional when she revealed that many women approached her after seeing her film and told her stories of losing their children. It was such a vulnerable moment for Amy and it moved the audience. At that moment she wasn’t a celebrity or an artist; she was a human being with demons and it made her much more attainable.
My favorite, and the most humorous moment of the night was when Paul Thomas Anderson arrived on stage to present Amy with the coveted award. Paul was a physical example of what Amy was talking about when she credited her directors for bringing her out of her shell; Amy’s entire demeanor changed hen Paul was up on stage. She looked incredibly comfortable and open. Paul went as far to tease her saying “If you want a handjob of maximum efficieny, go to Amy Adams,”. Amy cracked up and it was so nice to get a glimpse of the director-actor dynamic of an extremely high level.
The night ended with Amy accepting the award and graciously stating, “I am a very fearful person and I’d like to thank all my directors for helping me to become fearless”. I was very inspired by Amy’s stories of her career’s beginning and the stories in between. Despite the slow pacing, it was an enjoyable night and I believe Amy is very deserving of the Cinema Vanguard Award.

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Published:
02.10.13 / 4pm
Category:
Films, Santa Barbara Film Festival 2013