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L.A. critics name "Brokeback Mountain" best movie

Posted on: Saturday, 10 December 2005, 22:17 CST

By Bob Tourtellotte

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Brokeback Mountain," the film about a gay love affair that transforms the lives of two cowboys, was named 2005's best film by a major critics group on Saturday in the first of several awards lists expected to narrow the field of Oscar contenders.

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association gave its best director award to Ang Lee for his work on "Brokeback Mountain" and put one of the film's stars, Heath Ledger, in the runner-up position for best actor.

The critics group named Philip Seymour Hoffman as 2005's best actor for his role as author Truman Capote in "Capote," and in a surprise, Vera Farmiga was named best actress for playing a drug-addicted woman in the low-budget drama "Down to the Bone."

Director David Cronenberg's dramatic thriller, "A History of Violence," about a man pursued by mobsters who believe he belongs to their gang, was runner-up for best film and Cronenberg was runner-up for top director.

Judi Dench landed the best actress runner-up award for her part in "Mrs. Henderson Presents," about an upper-class British woman who buys a London theater and fills it with nude actresses to entertain troops during World War Two.

The Los Angeles critics list is the first major group of award winners this Oscar season, and will be followed next week by New York Film Critics Circle honors and nominees for Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globe Awards.

Early critical honors and nominations give Hollywood award watchers a more defined list of films to consider among the year's best. The Oscars, given out on March 5 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, are the U.S. film industry's top honors.

In other awards, "Capote," written by Dan Futterman, and "The Squid and the Whale," tied for favorite screenplay.

Catherine Keener was named best supporting actress for her work in four films: "Capote," "The Ballad of Jack and Rose," "The 40 Year Old Virgin" and "The Interpreter." Amy Adams was the runner-up for her work in the low-budget comedy "Junebug."

William Hurt was given the award for best supporting actor for playing a mobster in "A History of Violence," and Frank Langella was runner-up for "Good Night, and Good Luck."

The foreign-language film award went to "Cache" by director Michael Haneke and the runner-up was "2046" from director Wong Kar Wai.

Terrence Howard, who starred in "Hustle & Flow," was honored with the new generation award, and Richard Widmark will receive an award for career achievement.

The Los Angeles Film Critics awards will be given to winners at a ceremony in Los Angeles on January 17.

Source: REUTERS

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