Even if Russell Crowe reins in his lyricism and loutish tendencies, there is plenty of potential for excruciating moments at Sunday's Oscars.

Since the ceremony is to be broadcast live, the whiz-kid of Oz - widely considered most likely to win best actor for A Beautiful Mind - can be assured no meddling producers will edit his speech this time.

Reports of his alleged tantrums after Bafta's sideshow have in any case been drowned out by the publicity drumbeat boosting the Universal Studios' and DreamWorks' version of the life of mathematician John Nash. Anyone puzzled by the fact that while film production costs continue to decline, marketing bills rocket upwards need only tune in and scan the press to face an unprecedented assault of puffery.

As for Crowe, in a town where delusions of grandeur afflict even the valet parkers: who cares? Much more enticing is the prospect of the upset of the century when the envelope is torn open to reveal the winner of the Oscar for the animated feature of the year.

This new category has been introduced in the awards' 74th year after much lobbying by Walt Disney, which invented, dominated and then re-invented the genre.

Represented by Monsters Inc, the Disney team finds itself head-to-head with DreamWorks' global blockbuster, Shrek. This pits Michael Eisner, Disney grand vizier, against DreamWorks' Jeffrey Katzenberg, his former studio chief, whose departure in 1994 sparked one of the most, bitter and expensive corporate divorce cases on record.

Whoever wins, the mugshots of the contenders are sure to be priceless.

It may also be a moment to savour for years to come. The rules are that for the category to qualify for an Oscar in any year, at least eight full-length features must be released. Considering the rate at which most of Disney's rivals have retreated from animation, viewers could be in for a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.