Yeah, He's The One

The American Film Institute has been giving out yearly Life Achievement Awards since 1973, starting with Director John Ford. Initially I was usually impressed by their selections. As the decades rolled by I was less so and often thought that while their selections were worthy, many superior potential honorees were ignored. Women have always gotten short shrift. In the last several years I have felt more and more this way.

This year, the honoree is going to be Michael Douglas. This guy did his best work in a supporting role on a TV drama 30 years ago. Since then, his material and the portrayals therein have rarely failed to be derivative and banal. Kathleen Turner was the real draw in those Romancing the Stone movies and they were a second tier Spielberg rip off. In "Wall Street", he was upstaged by Charlie Sheen. It's hard to imagine that's even possible, considering Charlie's narcotic intake at the time. Douglas' selection is a disgrace. Money must surely have changed hands.

Mel Brooks was probably booked up, not available. Jane Fonda, too political, no doubt. Sly Stallone would have actually been a better choice. Wonder who's on deck for next year? Hasselhof? Andrew Stevens? I personally am hoping for Sally Fields. I really, really like her.