Denzel Washington is the 2002 Honoree:

The American Cinematheque Award is presented annually to an extraordinary artist currently making a significant contribution to the art of the Moving Picture.

Award Presentation: Tom Hanks
Host: Jamie Foxx

Show Participants: Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, Barry Bonds, Cedric "The Entertainer," Robert Downey, Jr., Steve Harvey, Ethan Hawke, Keanu Reeves, Bruce Willis.

Taped Messages from Mel Gibson & Spike Lee

The Hollywood Reporter was there (reporting from Hollywood and all):

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 midcareer. 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.

"There is only one actor in the course of his career thus far who can be appropriately and righteously compared to Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable — as well as Sidney Poitier," Tom Hanks, Washington's "Philadelphia" co-star, said in presenting him with the award. "He is their equal in honesty and artistry. So let's name 2002 the year of Denzel Washington."

Puckishly acknowledging the fact that Washington is something of a matinee idol as well, Hanks also added, "Women that I know say that Denzel is dreamy. A woman that I am married to confirms this. ... In fact, Denzel is dreamy."

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"

Dude isn't ugly. I think Washington is an extraordinary actor of range and gravity, certainly in the league of the legends mentioned by Hanks, as well as Hanks himself. He's also a true movie star, which is something different from actor - being both is the real trick few achieve.