The show itself didn’t gel as well. There were no exhilarating high points, and the outrageously tacky lows (remember Rob Lowe and Snow White?) that can make this never-ending event oddly memorable were missing as well. But it did have its moments. Emcee Billy Crystal sang his own medley (“This is the story of a man named Corleone./This man killed everyone so now he’s home alone”). Madonna, in her Marilyn mode, jiggled through a campy, vampy rendition of Stephen Sondheim’s winning song, “Sooner or Later,” then joined besequined “date” Michael Jackson (who had his own hair problems) in the audience. In the winners’ circle were Whoopi Goldberg, who was “f—ing thrilled” to take the best-supporting-actress award for “Ghost,” best actor Irons “Reversal of Fortune”), best actress Kathy Bates (“Misery”) and Joe Pesci, best supporting actor for “GoodFellas.” Sophia Loren, who received a special award, provided grace, “grazie” and two sons for viewing pleasure. Presenter Jodie Foster, offering twin peeks, seemed to have lost her shirt. Maybe she’ll find it by the next Oscar show, which is sure to be the Year of the Lamb.
