Kanye West kicked off the ceremony by presenting Steve McQueen with the “Hollywood Breakout Director Award” for “12 years a Slave.”
“I’ve arrived!” said McQueen.
Jack Black presented the screenwriter award to Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy and Richard Linklater, the trio behind “Before Midnight.”
Robert Downey Jr. had one of the best opening lines of any presenter: “Greta Garbo, Grace Kelly, Faye Dunaway, Charlize Theron, Jared Leto: All arguably the most beautiful actresses,” he said before handing Jared Leto his breakout performance award for his role as a transgender person in “Dallas Buyers Club.”
Presented by Angela Bassett, the “New Hollywood Award” went to Lupita Nyong’o, who was the only recipient to tear up during her speech.
When receiving her actress award from Octavia Spencer, Bullock said, “The Hollywood I know has allowed me to keep trying and not send me out to pasture.”
Said Lee Daniels when accepting his director award from his star Forest Whitaker for his work on “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” ”This is a big time not just for African American cinema, but for cinema.”
Chris Martin accepted the song award for Coldplay’s track “Atlas,” the original song penned for the upcoming “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” which he performed at the gala.
Harrison Ford, who gained the career achievement award, was the only recipient to receive a standing ovation.
Jake Gyllenhaal looking skinny and boney for his new role in ‘Nightcrawlers’, received the supporting actor award from Viola Davis for his work in Warner Bros.’ Prisoners. “I wanted to do the movie because it’s so balls to the wall … it’s not a storybook version.” said Gyllenhaal.
Bruce Willis presented Jerry Weintraub with the legend award and the ensemble award went to the cast of “August: Osage County” including Julia Roberts, Juliette Lewis, Dermot Mulroney, Margo Martindale, Julianne Nicholson and Chris Cooper.
Geoffrey Rush, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Sean Hayes were also in attendance.
The gala which some were whispering may be televised next year, was hosted by Entertainment Tonight’s Nancy O’Dell,