Zellweger, Robbins Score Early Oscars

Renee Zellweger and Tim Robbins won their first Oscars at the 76th Annual Academy Awards Sunday night at the Kodak Theatre -- Zellweger for her portrayal of a rough-and-tumble farmhand in Anthony Minghella's "Cold Mountain," and Robbins for his role as the disturbed husband in director Clint Eastwood's somber drama "Mystic River."

"Oh boy, wow," Robbins said as he clutched his gold statuette. "Clint Eastwood, you are so great, you are an amazing director and you are making my mantel very crowded."

He also thanked his fellow "Mystic River" costars, and called longtime partner Susan Sarandon "my best friend." Though he's a noted liberal activist, Robbins didn't get political with his speech, but he did tell the audience: "In this movie I play a victim of abuse and violence, and if you are out there and are a person who has had that tragedy befall you, there is no shame or weakness in seeking counseling. It is the strongest thing you can do to stop a cycle of violence."

Zellweger took her time getting to the stage when Chris Cooper announced her name. After reaching into her bejeweled purse for a piece of paper with her speech on it, the actress modestly declared, "I am overwhelmed, I am overwhelmed, thank you. I would like to thank the Academy for inviting me here tonight alongside so many talented people."

She then named her fellow nominees, and said it was a privilege to go to work every day with Nicole Kidman and Jude Law. She also thanked her "Jerry Maguire" costar, Tom Cruise, "for showing me very early on that kindness and success are not necessarily mutually exclusive."

For the most part, the Oscars kicked off with laughs. With a cordial welcoming prologue by Sean Connery and a movie parody called "The Return of the Host," the ceremony got off to a rollicking start with Billy Crystal back at the helm after an absence of three years.

Crystal noted, "For the first time ever, we are being simulcast in Aramaic" -- an obvious jab at Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ." And for "first-time nominees," he added, "it is customary to tip the host."

Among his other schticks, Crystal sang his traditional medley, starting with a song to the tune of "Ol' Man River," called "Mystic River." "Lost in Translation" was saluted with a song called "Sofia" -- as in Coppola, its Oscar nominated writer-director -- to the tune of "Maria" from "West Side Story," while "The Lord of the Rings" was a send-up of "My Favorite Things." (Crystal apologized to Julie Andrews in advance.)

"Seabiscuit" was sung to "Goldfinger" and "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" got zinged to the tune of "Come Fly with Me."

Before the show, Sarandon was asked if she had any advice for her partner Robbins. "Yes," she said, "let's be on time for once, because your category comes up first."

For his turn on the red carpet, "Lost in Translation" Best Actor nominee Bill Murray said, in preparation for looking good tonight, "I did 30,000 (stomach) crunches." Fellow nominee Johnny Depp, up for "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," said he took it easy all day.

Keisha Castle-Hughes, the 13-year-old Best Actress nominee for "Whale Rider," ("You're too young to have three names," Crystal told her) said beforehand that she was rooting for Depp, "because he's a huge stud."

Meanwhile, one high-profile A-lister was noticeably absent: Mel Gibson, who reportedly was asked to serve as a presenter. But in a lengthy Los Angeles Times profile of Oscarcast producer Joe Roth on Sunday morning, it was said that Gibson declined out of fears that he would be booed, on account of his controversial (if highly commercial) "The Passion of the Christ."

Spokespeople for Gibson told the paper that the actor-director was merely overseeing the first weekend of his Biblical movie's release.

• Check out PEOPLE's complete Oscar coverage.