HOLLYWOOD - Controversial movie Brokeback Mountain is leading the Oscar race after winning three prizes at the influential Critics' Choice Awards last night.
The gay cowboy romance won Best Film, Best Director for Ang Lee and Best Supporting Actress for Michelle Williams, an award she shared with Junebug's Amy Adams.
Lee told the audience at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, California, "I used to say that I didn't believe in competition among filmmakers but, what the hell, this is great!
"We trusted the tale and it led us to where it wanted to go. We are getting a better reception than we thought."
Crash won Best Acting Ensemble and Best Writer for Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco.
Philip Seymour Hoffman picked up the Best Actor award for his role in Capote, while Reese Witherspoon was named Best Actress for her part in Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line.
Paul Giamatti won Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Cinderella Man.
And George Clooney was honored with the Freedom Award for his sophomore directorial effort, Good Night, And Good Luck, for which he was hailed for "shining a light on a crucial moment in (U.S.) history illustrating the impact and importance of courage and integrity in broadcast journalism."
The full list of winners is:
Best Picture--Brokeback Mountain
Best Actor--Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote
Best Actress--Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line
Best Supporting Actor--Paul Giamatti in Cinderella Man
Best Supporting Actress--Amy Adams in Junebug; Michelle Williams in Brokeback Mountain
Best Acting Ensemble--Crash
Best Director--Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain
Best Writer--Paul Haggis, Bobby Moresco for Crash
Best Animated Feature--Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were Rabbit
Best Young Actor--Freddie Highmore in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Best Young Actress--Dakota Fanning in War of the Worlds
Best Comedy Movie--The 40 Year-Old Virgin
Best Family Film (Live Action)--The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Best Picture Made for Television--Into the West
Best Documentary Feature--March of the Penguins
Best Foreign Language Film--Kung Fu Hustle
Best Song—“Hustle & Flow,” by Terrence Howard, from Hustle and Flow
Best Soundtrack--Walk the Line
Best Composer--John Williams for Memoirs of a Geisha
Distinguished Achievement in Performing Arts--Andy Serkis
Freedom Award--George Clooney
Article Copyright World Entertainment News Network All Rights Reserved.
Photo(s) by Special to Hollywood.com- © 2005- Focus Features- All Rights Reserved