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Neil Patrick Harris fills Oscars with class and cachet

Ben Affleck said it best: The cardinal sin is dullness.

The 87th Academy Awards show Sunday night was not dull.

Sure, the show was another predictably staid ocular orgy of self-promotion by Hollywood moviemakers.

But it had class, clash and cachet.

Who could stay seated after Lady Gaga belted out a superb rendition of selections from “The Sound of Music,” followed by the original singer Julie Andrews coming on stage to announce the best original score?

Who couldn't be touched by several great acceptance speeches, political speeches, the right kind of speeches celebrating freedom of expression, the right to be different, the right to have equal rights, and equal standing as American citizens?

It was almost like the speakers took a page from the Oscar shows of the 1960s and 1970s.

It was a night of lovely British accents and John Travolta's alien hair style.

Just for a moment, my heart went pitta-pat with the sudden realization, even the hope, that the real best movie of 2014, “Whiplash,” might win best picture. The common wisdom dictates that the winner of the best editing Oscar goes on to win the big enchilada.

But the biggest Oscar of all went to the expected winner, “Birdman,” running neck-and-neck with other favorite “Boyhood.”

A giddy Eddie Redmayne could barely contain his joy for winning for his portrait of Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything,” keeping intact the Oscar rule that roles with afflictions and diseases and disabilities give their actors an edge.

Neil Patrick Harris proved to be a perfect emcee for the event. Irreverent without being obnoxious. Quick without being condescending. He led a hilarious opening number that rhymed “Brando” with Sharon Stone (in “Basic Instinct”) “going commando.” After that, anything went.

As far as fashion went, Jennifer Lopez popped up on the red carpet with a dress with the biggest plunge since the stock market in 2008.

She had competition from Scarlett Johansson, poured into a slinky green dress.

Chicago writer Graham Moore's acceptance speech for winning the adapted screenplay gave a passionate appeal for people who feel different. Moore urged them to know they belong.

Matthew McConaughey invoked Chicago film critic Roger Ebert's observation that good actors make audiences identify with their characters, just before announcing Redmayne as a winner.

The show moved crisply and relatively quick, with Jack Black threatening to hijack the show by being a master heckler.

“Beat it!” Anna Kendrick shouted at him.

“Fine!” Black shrieked.

And the show was just that.

Lady Gaga performs during the tribute to "The Sound of Music: at the Oscars on Sunday. Associated Press/Invision
Questlove, from left, Akiva Schaffer, Sara Quin, Andy Samberg, Tegan Quin and Jorma Taccone perform "Everything is Awesome" at the Oscars on Sunday. Associated Press/Invision
Host Neil Patrick Harris sings about the magic of the moving picture during the opening of the Oscars on Sunday. Associated Press/Invision
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