Born This Way: William A. Wellman's "A Star is Born" (1937)

Every few decades, one remake emerges that defines the zeitgeist in some meaningful way. While there's only four versions of A Star is Born out there currently, they all have left a stamp on Hollywood and the music industries with scathing tales of fame, indulgence, and the power of creativity. Over the course of this week, Born This Way will be looking at the films, released between 1937 and 2018, and analyzing what makes each one special along with what they do right, what could be improved, and just a general celebration of all things glitz and glamour. You might want to take another look at this column, because it's something as timeless as film itself. Dive in and enjoy Hollywood's favorite franchise, which has earned 17 Oscar nominations, 2 wins, and an Honorary Award. There's few films like these, so catch them before they fade away.

Here's the List of This Year's Honorary Oscar Recipients

Kathleen Kennedy

As with every year, one of the most exciting parts of Oscar season is when they announce the recipients of this year's Honorary Oscars. They're voted on by the Board of Governors and presented to people in the arts that have done significant work. In this case, it seems like a doozy of a year featuring five people on the list. The people this year include publicist Marvin Levy, composer Lalo Schifrin, and actress Cicely Tyson. Also receiving the Irving G. Thalberg award is two producers Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy, the latter of whom is the first woman to win said award. With this impressive line-up comes recognition for a lot of great talent in the industry.

Check This Out: Highlights from This Year's Oscars Governors Ball

This past weekend, The Academy held its annual Governors Ball where it handed out Honorary Oscars to four deserving individuals within the film community. This year's recipients included Agnes Varda, Donald Sutherland, Owen Roizman, Charles Burnett, and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu for the first special Oscar win in over 20 years. The ceremony was a lively event packed with speeches not only from the winners, but of various people sharing stories and tribute to these artists. To watch all of the videos, click below and see all of the memorable events that played out at the event, which for that night at least could be called "The dance of cinema."

Inarritu and Lubezki Win First Special Oscar Since 1995

Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

While many are still trying to predict who is going to even be nominated at next year's ceremony, The Academy has already given out one award. No, it isn't a mistake on par with the infamous La La Land Best Picture win. It's for real. Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki will be receiving a Special Oscar win at the upcoming Governors Ball for their work on the virtual reality project CARNE y ARENA. How much of a big deal is this award? Well, Inarritu and Lubezki are the first Special Oscar winners in 22 years. It's a pretty big deal for the team behind Birdman and The Revenant, and their latest venture into virtual reality has paid off nicely.

Check Out the List of the Honorary Oscar Recipients for 2017

Donald Sutherland in Ordinary People

As the Oscar season heats up, it's time to also prepare for the annual Honorary Oscars ceremony. What lucky talents will get the chance to be recognized for their careers in art? It only seems fitting that the names have been released right as trailers for potential upcoming nominees have dropped. So, who are the four faces that will light the stage in just a few short months? The talents are vast and reflect a variety of fields, including acting, directing, and technical aspects behind the scenes. So ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Honorary Oscar circle: Donald Sutherland, Charles Burnett, Owen Roizman, and Agnes Varda. Who are they? More information will be available after the jump.

R.I.P. Debbie Reynolds (1932-2016)

Debbie Reynolds

On December 28, 2016, actress and singer Debbie Reynolds died at the age of 84 in Los Angeles, California after suffering from a stroke. Over the course of her lengthy career, she has entertained audiences both on the silver screen as well as on TV. Best known for her role in Singin' in the Rain, she is known for performing complicated song and dance numbers effortlessly. However, she was a charismatic woman whose talents ranged into theater, film preservation, and even running an organization for mental health issues. No matter what the cause, she dedicated herself to making the world a better place. She leaves behind an impressive body of work that transcends media that will entertain audiences for generations to come.

Check It Out: Watch Videos From The Academy's Governors Ball 2016

Jackie Chan

This past weekend, The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) held their annual Governors Ball to hand out Honorary Oscars to individuals in the arts who have done superb work. This year's group featured Jackie Chan, Frederick Wiseman, Anne V. Coates, and Lynn Stalmaster along with celebrities introducing them with monologues detailing each recipient's achievements. Thanks to the fine work over at The Academy's YouTube page, you can watch highlights from the ceremony right now, including each recipient's speech as well as the introduction by AMPAS President Cheryl Boone Isaacs.

Check Out This Year's Honorary Oscar Winners

Jackie Chan

Every year, there's something just as exciting as the Oscar season itself: the Honorary Oscar winners. While held separately from the actual ceremony, the choice to highlight artists who have made cinema a far more interesting place is itself an event worth checking out. For the Class of 2016, the line-up definitely reflects President Cheryl Boone Isaacs' desire to branch out to have a more diverse representation both in terms of female and nonwhite members. In what is probably the most shocking and exciting name on the list is actor, singer, and stunt performer Jackie Chan - whose impressive career continues to serve as the inspiration for actors who want to make action movies while doing their own stunts. The other names are just as exciting, but Chan's placement on the list definitely reflects a positive change.

Check This Out: Watch Clips From This Year's Governors Awards Ceremony

Spike Lee

This past Saturday marked the 7th annual Governors Awards, which was created to highlight those receiving Honorary Oscars for their work in film and media. As with every year, the selections reflected a diverse yet creative mix of artists, including Gena Rowlands, Debbie Reynolds, and Spike Lee. Along with being a typical ceremony, each winner was presented with a tribute from his or her peers - all of whom provided lively and comical anecdotes about their friends. Thanks to the folks over at Oscars' YouTube page,  you can watch all of the videos from that event, including an introduction from President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. The following is a highlight of the evening, including the speeches in full.

Check Out This Year's Honorary Oscar Recipients

Left to right: Gena Rowlands, Spike Lee, and Debbie Reynolds

Along with the familiar competitive Oscar season, it is time once again to give out the Honorary Oscars. These are rewarded to artists who have given a noticeable career to the arts and have arguably made it better. Among last year's winners were Steve Martin and Angelina Jolie. This year hasa  trio of familiar and curious faces that are sure to leave at very least some interesting speeches - if they choose to show up. For now, the following is a list of the artists of whom will be receiving honorary awards in November.

Check This Out: Watch the Videos from this Year's Academy Awards' Governors Ball

This past weekend, the Academy held the annual Governors Awards. Every year, honorary awards are handed out to selected individuals who have made an impact in the realm of film. As discussed when this year's selections were announced, this year's line-up is fairly impressive and features a mixtures of performers and animators that we owe a great deal of respect to. Thanks to the people over at The Oscars' Youtube page, you can watch highlights of the night's biggest events, including introductions and speeches from the recipients. Click the jump to see videos of the many winners from that night's ceremony.

Miyazaki, O'Hara and Others to Receive Honorary Oscars

While Oscar season doesn't officially start until next week, the Academy has already announced the recipients of the annual Governor's Awards. The four that were selected reflect a wide array of talent within the world of cinema and have contributed to its overall growth. But who are these individuals that have won? What do we remember them from? Here is a quick rundown of their Oscar history and why they are deserving of this year's awards. 

(All biographies are credited to the Oscars Press Release)

A Look at the Recipients of This Year's Governors Awards

Left to right: Angelina Jolie, Angela Lansbury, and Steve Martin

This past Sunday, the Academy held their annual Governor's Awards to honor individuals who have done a great deal of work towards cinema. Over the many years, the list of recipients have ranged in overall quality and much like Steve Martin this year, some haven't even received a nomination in their career. While it is a shame that the honorary awards are not recognized at the Academy Awards ceremony like the other awards, it is nice to see them getting their moment to shine. Most of the highlights have been posted on the Oscars' Youtube page for your casual viewing. To honor the four recipients, I have compiled a look at each of the attendees history with the Academy Awards and share some personal thoughts as well.