Hollywood Film Awards: Shia LaBeouf thanks Georgia police officer for 2017 arrest

Bryan Alexander | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Shia LaBeouf thanks Georgia police officer who arrested him in 2017 During his speech at the Hollywood Film Awards, Shia LaBeouf gave a show of gratitude to everyone who has impacted his life.

LOS ANGELES — Shia LaBeouf gave an unusual, and profound, show of gratitude during his speech at the Hollywood Film Awards Sunday night.

LaBeouf gave credit to the Savannah, Georgia, police officer who booked him for public drunkenness in July 2017 while accepting a screenwriting award for his autobiographical film, "Honey Boy."

"I want to thank the police officer who arrested me in Georgia," said LaBeouf, who carried on speaking over some laughs from audience members who thought he was joking. "For changing my life."

LaBeouf used time during his court-ordered rehab after the sensational arrest to write the script. Now sober, he went on to thank "my therapist and my sponsor for saving my life," as well as "my parents for giving my life."

LaBeouf attended the awards with his mother, Shayna Saide, who tearfully looked on as he accepted the award for the film in which the actor plays his own father looking back at his stormy childhood.

Robert Downey Jr. presented the award to LaBeouf, praising "Honey Boy," which will be released Friday. Downey called the screenplay "damn near perfect," adding that it was "easily the best and bravest film I have seen in years."

Here are other highlights from the Hollywood Film Awards:

• Nicole Kidman presented a career achievement award to her "Bombshell" co-star Charlize Theron, who also produced the film. Kidman praised Theron, who plays Megyn Kelly in the movie about a group of women who take on Fox News' then CEO Roger Ailes, for her "commitment" in getting the film made.

Theron thanked the "brave women" depicted in the film "for stepping out to do the right thing." In a lighter moment, she said hello to her two daughters, Jackson, 7, and August, 3, who were "at home wondering why I’m not watching 'Mamma Mia' with them for the 30th time."

• Al Pacino was feted for best supporting actor for his Jimmy Hoffa role in "The Irishman." Pacino gave credit to his "Godfather II" and "Heat" co-star Robert De Niro for securing the new acting job with director Martin Scorsese. It's the first time the legendary actor, Pacino and Scorsese have worked together.

"Bob said, 'How about Al as Hoffa,' and Marty said 'Yeah, OK. Is he OK?' " Pacino said from the podium. "And Bob said 'He's a sweetheart.' So I didn’t have to audition. They gave me the part. I like being called a sweetheart. So Bob got me the role in 'The Irishman.' "

De Niro plays a hit man who works closely Hoffa in the film in release at select theaters. (It will stream on Netflix Nov. 27.) As far as working with the great director Scorsese, Pacino admitted, "It’s so weird we never worked together."

• Dakota Johnson presented the best actor award to her stepfather, Antonio Banderas, who was married to Johnson's mother, Melanie Griffith, from 1996 to 2015.

Johnson grew tearful onstage talking about life at home with the wildly entertaining Banderas and seeing firsthand his "pure passion" to the character in films such as "Zorro," "El Mariachi" and "Puss In Boots."

"It was the most fun a kid could have," said Johnson. "We had 'Shrek' swag coming out of our ears. We loved every second of it."

Banderas, who stars in his eighth Pedro Almodóvar film, "Pain and Glory," thanked Johnson from the stage for calling him "Papi."

"She still calls me Papi, And I love that, you have no idea," he said, adding that the two are family even if his marriage to Griffith has ended. "We had 20 years of family life that was beautiful, but the best is still to come."

Banderas also gave props directly to his biological daughter with Griffith, Stella, in the audience.

"No matter how many movies, or stage productions, you have been my best production," Banderas said.