After all the controversy (missing ballots, missing statues, the profanity-laced Best Song nominee from SOUTH PARK, and no Debbie Allen dance number), the 72nd Oscars turned out to be a fairly entertaining evening.

Billy Crystal’s taped opening, with the West Side Story homage, was funny. Combined with the GAP ads, that musical had quite a bit of air play last night. The GAP ads were easily my favorite. The Pepsi commericial with that little “ba-ba-ba” girl dressed up with the band KISS was downright frightening.

I didn’t at first like all 5 Best Song nominees being strung together, but the beautifully restrained performance of winner Phil Collins’ “You’ll Be in My Heart” won me over (I still think his score for Disney’s TARZAN is one of my favorite recent animated scores). And the wonderfully unrestrained performance of “Blame Canada!” from SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONG, & UNCUT was a stitch.

The “favorite songs from the movies” sequence was enjoyable too. But poor Faith Hill! Having to recreate songs so identifiable with Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand! Poor Isaac Hayes! Lost in that cloud of fog!

I’m glad Hillary Swank won Best Actress for BOYS DON’T CRY, even if her acceptance speech was a little too polished & professional for my taste. Her comments that this film probably wouldn’t have been a few years ago is true. Even more so, she would never have even been nominated for this kind of part a few years ago.