Academy Awards Results

With few frills, the 73rd annual Academy Awards Sunday night traveled a quick, no-nonsense path at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium.

"Gladiator," a throwback to the days of big epics, won best picture. Late in the evening, Russell Crowe took best actor honors as the courageous Roman general in "Gladiator." He also was nominated last year for playing a tobacco industry whistle-blower in "The Insider."

Best actress winner Julia Roberts won on her third try, playing a real life mother of three who helped win a legal battle against polluters in "Erin Brockovich."

The jubilant Julia, in a vintage black Valentino dress, told the speech timekeeper she already had a big screen TV -- the shortest speech giver was promised a TV as a reward.

Steven Soderbergh, best director winner for "Traffic," said the world would be unbearable without art. He also was nominated for "Erin Brockovich."

Before the end of the first hour, Marcia Gay Harden, an advisory board member of Indianapolis' Heartland Film Festival, took the best supporting actress Oscar for her emotional portrayal of artist Lee Krasner in "Pollock."

Benicio Del Toro, winner of several pre-Oscar honors, was honored as best supporting actor for "Traffic," in which he played a Mexican policeman waging a battle against drugs.