Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Glitz replaced decorum at Sunday's 74th Academy Awards with the return of Oscar to Hollywood for the first time in 42 years. The awards were tainted by osmosis of the seedy neighborhood that Hollywood has become despite the flashy new Kodak Theatre designed specifically for the show. Advertisement The theater glittered like a diamond in a goat's incisor. But the ostentatious new mall, of which the Kodak is part, wasn't sufficient to withstand the gin mills, derelicts, hookers, tattoo parlors and tawdry shops. The show combined elements of the shabby surroundings with the mall/hotel/shops/and fast food joints still redolent of wet plaster. The 74th Academy Awards set a record for unseemly campaigning by stars, studios, producers and agents taking expensive ads in the trade press and newspapers, on billboards, in TV blurbs and mudslinging for academy votes. The ad free-for-all was in opposition to the academy's regulations, which, in part, read: "No false claims of Academy Award consideration are made in any advertising medium. Advertisement "The public is not misled by statement or implication that any achievement has won or been nominated for an Academy award when this is contrary to fact ..." Forget it. This year, almost as much money was squandered on promoting Oscar votes as it was for the leading films' entire marketing and advertising budget. Clearly the money was well spent for "A Beautiful Mind," which won best picture. Even so, that award was tainted by the failure of the academy to give the best actor award to Russell Crowe. Without Crowe's magnificent performance the film would never have been nominated. And it is unlikely Director Ron Howard and Jennifer Connelly, as supporting actress, would have won Oscars. Not to cast a shadow over Denzel Washington's triumph in winning the best actor award for "Training Day," there was a backlash against Crowe after recent obnoxious conduct on his part. In addition to positive reaction to Washington's superb performance, there was repugnance of Crowe's roughneck Australian machismo that did not sit well with academy voters. In a perfect world, honors for artists would be based on the individual's work alone, not on his or her personal popularity. Advertisement Washington, who conducts himself as a gentleman at all times, is the antithesis of the often crude Crowe. Washington is one of the most popular stars in Hollywood, as well as one of its best actors. Much was made of the fact that African-Americans captured both major acting awards, with Halle Berry winning best actress for "Monster's Ball." True, it was a landmark win for people of color, but more salient is the talent of the winners. They were deserving no matter their race. On the other hand, host Whoopi Goldberg and her bag-lady humor did much to drag the Oscar show down to its lowest snickering denominator. She lacks the glamour and dignity that Bob Hope and Johnny Carson brought to the show. They sparkled with true wit as opposed to Goldberg's sexually raucous innuendoes that were out of step with the event. It is inconceivable that Hollywood, the very hub of show business, could put on an overlong extravaganza that bored so many people in the theater and watching at home on television. The fault must be placed on producer Laura Ziskin, making her debut as the Oscar impresario. Advertisement The tedious show ran on and on for 4 hours and 23 minutes -- the longest in Oscar history. Highlights of the evening did not involve winners in the competitive categories but could be found in the special awards honorees: Woody Allen, Sidney Poitier and Robert Redford, all of whom surpassed in eloquence the Oscar winners. Poitier did honor to his generation of actors, thanking those minority performers who had preceded him and his own sterling career. Humble, yet proud, Poitier stood tall and articulate. Backstage he told reporters in part: "If I was the only one (minority) for an appreciable length of time ... and if before me there was no one, and if you came to this venue tonight and saw the array of minority actors headed by some rather extraordinary people, you would know that there has been change." Allen represented New Yorkers at his first Oscar appearance in memorial to the heroes and victims of the Sept. 11 attack on America. Allen, a dyed-in-the-wool native New Yorker, addressed the greatness of his city and its advantages as a location for filmmakers. Mixing delicious humor with the tragic consequences of the event, Allen was cheered for his insight and applauded for his wit. Redford spoke of his Sundance festival and its importance to the movie community. Advertisement More than anything else, these three movie icons gave genuine sparkle, dignity and meaning to an extremely ponderous show.
