Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie swept away the competition at the Razzies, an annual spoof of the Academy Awards singling out the worst achievements in film.

　　"Swept Away," the island-romance bomb that starred Madonna and was written and directed by Ritchie, took five Razzie Awards on Saturday, among them worst picture of 2002.

　　Madonna tied for worst actress with fellow pop queen Britney Spears, who made her starring debut in "Crossroads," another worst-picture contender.

　　Ritchie was chosen worst director, while "Swept Away" earned Madonna a second award for worst screen couple with co-star Adriano Giannini. A remake of an acclaimed Italian film about a rich snob stranded with a hunky sailor, Madonna's "Swept Away" also received the trophy for worst remake or sequel.

　　Madonna was named worst supporting actress for her brief cameo as a fencing instructor in the James Bond flick "Die Another Day," for which she also sang the theme song.

　　Razzies founder Wilson said he always votes last and cast the ballot that tied Madonna and Spears for wo-rst actress, though he would not say which he voted for.

　　"They are equally wretch-ed," Wilson said. "They admire each other, and they can have each other."

　　Meantime, the show still goes on for the Academy Awards, whose organizers were promising a tastefully toned-down celebration considering the war with Iraq.

　　Missing from the 75th Oscars will be the splashy red-carpet arrival areaswheresstars preen, pose and prattle about their designer gowns. Formal evening wear remains a must, though Oscar guests are expected to moderate the glitz and glamor out of respect for US soldiers fighting to topple Saddam Hussein's regime.

　　Studios and other Hollywood groups still plan post-Oscar bashes, though many have dropped the usual gauntlet of reporters and photographers outside.

　　"At a time when American culture and values are under attack all over the world, we think it is more important than ever that we honor those achievements that reflect us and America at our best," said Frank Pierson, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

　　Gil Cates, the show's producer, said a friend who's executive officer aboard a Navy ship told him that it was important to carry on "as normal, as usual, that we should do the show."

　　Cates said organizers have seen no more last-minute cancellations among celebrities and other guests than they do every year.