Spike Lee and Denzel Washington Dismiss Awards  3/27/06

Malcolm X director Spike Lee and actor Denzel Washington are still bitter their efforts were not recognized at the 1992 Academy Awards.

Washington received a nomination for his portrayal of the black nationalist leader but was beaten by Al Pacino for his role in Scent of a Woman.

Lee was excluded from the nominations altogether. But the pair claim the event proved trophies cannot validate the quality of their work.

In an interview discussion, Washington asks Lee, "How important is receiving awards?"

Lee says, "Y'know, I hate to bring up Malcolm X again but... That was a big lesson for me. That you really can't give power to a group of people, the Academy and the Grammy, whoever it is, to validate your work. You can't do that.

"And also - which I tell a lot of my students - you can't go into a project with the goal to win an award."

Washington responds, "Yeah, forget that. I've never done that. I don't care about that, really I don't.

"Maybe it meant more to me earlier in my career but... y'know, it's like my mother said: 'Man gives the award, God gives the reward.' That's my motto.

"Oscar is like 15 pounds and I don't care if I get one."