Reformed Hollywood bad boy Sean Penn will be the recipient of the fifth annual Joel Siegel Award at the 17th annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards. The ceremony is set to be broadcast from the Hollywood Palladium on January 12th by VH1. Word is that George Clooney who himself is nominated for best actor at the ceremony will present Penn with the award. The annual ceremony named after the late BFCA member and movie critic Joel Siegel, the organisation said of it’s inspiration that it honours those who “understand, as Joel did, that the greatest value of celebrity is as an enhanced platform to do good work for others”
Penn founded the J/P Haitian Relief Organization after the devastation of the 7.0 earthquake which struck Haiti in January 2010. His efforts in raising awareness and fundraising have helped the community considerably. BFCA president Joey Berlin had this to say: “While it was heartening to see such an outpouring of support and aid for the Haitian people in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, the long-term commitment made by Sean and his organization is particularly notable. The Joel Siegel Award was created to spotlight such above and beyond efforts by the leading lights of our industry and its spirit is truly personified by Sean Penn.”
Penn has been previously nominated for seven Critic’s Choice Awards and has won in the best actor category for his performances in Milk and Mystic River respectively. We at The Movie bit applaud Mr. Penn, well deserved sir!
