BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN - BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN LEADS CRITICS' CHOICE WINNERS

Controversial movie BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN is leading the Oscar race after winning three prizes at the influential Critics' Choice Awards last night (09JAN06).

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 film-makers 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 honoured 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 (US) 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 + 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.