Washington, Berry win top Oscars; 'A Beautiful Mind' takes best picture

[MS-NBC]:March 24 — Hollywood witnessed rare Oscar history Sunday night as two black actors, Denzel Washington and Halle Berry, won top acting honors at the 74th Annual Academy Awards. Berry is the first black woman to win a best-actress Oscar. She and Washington became only the second and third blacks to win Academy Awards for leading roles. They follow Sidney Poitier, who received the best-actor Oscar in 1963, and who received a career-achievement award Sunday. The award for best picture went to “A Beautiful Mind,” which also scored director honors for Ron Howard.

Well, at last! First, Denzel has deserved Oscars forever, and I'll never understand how he got only the supporting Oscar in Glory. Ah, the vagaries of acting guilds.

But an especial bravo for Halle Berry! I was amazed that a film producer would offer/pay her half a mil just to go topless (Swordfish), so it's nothing short of GREAT to see her take home the top prize. Her acceptance speech was tremendously moving (though she just hinted at rambling by the end; who cares, she was rocked). Bravo, bravo, bravo!