GEORGE CLOONEY - CLOONEY CHAMPIONS OSCAR RIVAL BROKEBACK

Actor/director GEORGE CLOONEY has hailed BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN as a "terrific film", even though his movie GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK is competing with the gay cowboy romance at the Oscars.

While ANG LEE's harrowing love story is up for eight Academy Awards at the ceremony next month (06MAR06), Clooney's second outing as a director is up for six nods.

Clooney admits he is baffled by some critics who label the film political because of the gay marriage debate in the United States.

He says, "I loved it. I think its a terrific film. Ang Lee is an amazing film-maker.

"It's not a political film."