The pundits had predicted a night of surprises, but the 74th Academy Award ceremony surpassed all expectations when two black actors – Halle Berry and Denzel Washington – won the top acting awards for the first time since the Academy was founded in 1928. And there were more firsts in store as Hollywood veteran Ron Howard made his Oscar debut with the best picture and best director double whammy for A Beautiful Mind.
Halle Berry became the first black actress ever to win the top award, for her portrayal of a death row widow in the crime drama Monster’s Ball, The 33-year-old star beat off heavy competition from Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman and Sissy Spacek, who was the hotly tipped favourite.
An overwhelmed Halle won a standing ovation as she rose to the podium. “Oh, my God,” she said, sobbing and gasping in between words. “I’m sorry. This moment is so much bigger than me. This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll. ... It’s for every nameless, faceless woman of colour who now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened.”
Denzel, who won for an against-type role as a malevolent LA cop in Training Day, paid tribute to Sidney Poitier, the only previous black best actor Oscar winner. Sidney had himself received an honorary award for his contribution to cinema only an hour previously. “Forty years I've been chasing Sidney,” said 47-year-old Denzel, “and what do they do – they go and give it to me in the same night.”
Seventy-five-year-old Sidney received a standing ovation as he collected his own accolade for representing the industry with “dignity, style and intelligence”. The actor scooped the best actor trophy for Lilies Of The Field in 1964.
The ceremony, which was held at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre, had got off to a stunning start with presenter Whoopi Goldberg descending from the roof on a trapeze in a golden Moulin Rouge! style outfit. It continued in spectacular style with a pyrotechnic display by the world famous Cirque du Soleil. Paul McCartney made his first Oscar appearance, with a performance of his song Vanilla Sky, from the film of the same name. And, in another Academy debut, Woody Allen came out to introduce a film about New York movies.
But the real excitement of the evening began with Jennifer Connelly scooping the first accolade for best supporting actress in A Beautiful Mind. “By some beautiful twist of fate I’ve landed in this vocation that demands that I feel and helps me to learn,” said Jennifer. “No film has moved or taught me more than A Beautiful Mind.”
And, as he picked up his first best director gong, Ron said: “I’m grateful for an entire lifetime involved in this creative process that we do.”
A Beautiful Mind also won for best adapted screenplay for Akiva Goldsman's adaptation of Sylvia Nasar's book, beating off hot favourite Lord Of The Rings.
Jim Broadbent won his first Oscar for a stand-out supporting role in Iris. The 52-year-old actor was visibly surprised – Sir Ian McKellen had been the hot favourite – exclaiming “stone the crows” as he collected the trophy. Jim went on to thank his fellow cast members including the “special” Judi Dench. “Making Iris was the most joyful, wonderful experience,” he said.
The rest of the evening was split between Lord Of The Rings, which took home four awards and Black Hawk Down, which scooped two. Gosford Park and Moulin Rouge! picked up an Oscar apiece.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina production No Man’s Land picked up the best foreign film gong, while Shrek won a landmark first Oscar in the race for best animated feature – the first occasion the accolade was awarded. And, after 15 previous shots at an Academy Award, composer Randy Newman finally took home a statuette. Randy won best song for If I Don’t Have You from the animated feature Monsters Inc.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
