United States, Dec 13: Calling the honor a "humbling, humiliating experience," Denzel Washington has been graced with the 17th annual American Cinematheque Award. Presented annually to "an extraordinary artist in the entertainment industry currently making a significant contribution to the art of the moving picture," the award is given to a filmmaker in mid-career. But in the case of Washington- -- who this year captured the best actor Oscar for his work in "Training Day" and who is making his directorial debut with Fox Searchlight's "Antwone Fisher," to be released Dec. 20 -- the lavish tributes that rained down on him at the fund-raising dinner that benefits the American Cinematheque made it clear that in his case no midcareer course correction is necessary. "Has Denzel Washington ever not been at the absolute top of his game? Has he ever turned in a performance that is not worth at least twice the price of admission? I don't think so," said Tom Hanks, Washington's "Philadelphia" co-star, in presenting him with the award. He has always been able to make walking across the street a riveting actor's choice." Washington had to submit to some good-natured joshing from the evening's master of ceremonies Jamie Foxx, who made sport of Washington's "leading-man teeth" and said of his Oscar win: "Not since O.J. have black people celebrated so much as when you won the Oscar." Halle Berry observed of this year's historic moment at the Oscars in which the top acting honors went to her and Washington, "For the first time, race didn't matter -- it was all about the acting, the craft, the work."


Remarked his "The Siege" co-star, Bruce Willis: "Most importantly, you never see him acting, you just see him behaving."


With many of the speakers paying testimony to the importance of Washington's marriage to his wife Pauletta, bad boy Robert Downey Jr. observed, "Denzel is a pretty squeaky clean guy."


Keanu Reeves, Ice Cube, Barry Bonds, Cedric the Entertainer, Steve and Ethan Hawke were among those paying tribute to Washington.


In accepting the award, Washington had thanks of his own to extend as he expressed appreciation to mentors, friends and family, among others.


"True desire in the heart for anything good is God's sure promise sent beforehand to indicate that it's yours already," Washington said. "Well, in my wildest dreams and desires I never imagined a night like this. It's been amazing, an amazing journey and an amazing destination."


The show will air on the AMC cable channel in North America in March.


Bureau Report