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"Crash" wins best film in Oscar stunner

Posted on: Monday, 6 March 2006, 00:27 CST

By Bob Tourtellotte

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Crash," the race relations drama that has captivated Hollywood, pulled off a stunning upset at the Oscars on Sunday winning the best film honor over heavily favored gay romance "Brokeback Mountain."

Philip Seymour Hoffman was named best actor playing homosexual writer Truman Capote in "Capote," and Hollywood sweetheart Reese Witherspoon's performance as country singer June Carter in the Johnny Cash biographical film, "Walk the Line," earned her the Oscar for best actress.

"Brokeback," about two cowboys who fall into a love that spans decades, won three awards overall, including Ang Lee as best director, Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry for best adapted screenplay, and Gustavo Santaolalla for best original score.

Coming into the evening, "Brokeback" led its rivals with eight nominations, more than "Crash" and George Clooney's moral tale "Good Night, and Good Luck" with six apiece.

"Crash" pulled a stunning upset because "Brokeback" won most all of Hollywood's best film honors heading into the Oscar.

When its surprise victory was announced, an audience of luminary moviemakers and movie stars at the Kodak Theater stood in the aisles and cheered "Crash."

"Crash" producer Cathy Schulman thanked Oscar voters for honoring a film "about love, about tolerance, about truth."

"We are humbled by the other nominees in this category," Schulman said. "You have made this year one of the most breathtaking and stunning, maverick years in American cinema."

Only moments earlier, Lee had accepted his trophy for directing "Brokeback," and it seemed certain his movie would claim the best film trophy.

Lee thanked not only the normal list of agents, managers, producers and other Hollywood handlers, but the fictional characters in the movie who, he said, taught audiences "the greatness of love, itself."

"CRASH" COURSE IN WINNING

Along with best film, "Crash" won the trophy for best original screenplay for writers Paul Haggis, who also directed the movie, and for his writing partner Bobby Moresco.

"Good Night, and Good Luck" failed to win any Oscars, but its mastermind George Clooney, who also directed and co-wrote the film, did win an Oscar for best supporting actor in his turn as a world-weary CIA agent in oil drama "Syriana."

British actress Weisz was given the best supporting actress award for playing a social activist who is murdered for her beliefs in thriller "The Constant Gardener.

A range of films won other trophies. Japanese saga "Memoirs of a Geisha" was given three Oscars for costume design and art direction and cinematography.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" won for best makeup. "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" from "Hustle & Flow" was named best original song.

But in another surprise, African film "Tsotsi," was named best foreign language movie over favorite "Paradise Now."

Following the plots of many of its message-themed movies, Oscar took a decidedly political tone with winners noting causes, and show host Jon Stewart cracking wise.

"We are a little bit out-of-touch in Hollywood," Clooney said. "I think that's probably a good thing. We are the ones who talked about AIDS when it was only being whispered ... We talked about civil rights ... I'm proud to be part of this Academy, proud to be part of this community, proud to be 'out of touch."'

Stewart, known for political satire, stuck to what he does best -- poking fun at politicians and Hollywood stars.

"Brokeback Mountain" was released by Focus Features, a unit of NBC Universal, which is controlled by General Electric Co. "Capote" and "Memoirs of a Geisha" were released by Sony Pictures, a unit of Sony Corp. "Walk the Line" was released by Twentieth Century Fox, a unit of News Corp.. "Crash" was released by Lionsgate, a unit of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.

"Syriana" was released by Warner Bros. Pictures, a unit of Time Warner Inc.

Source: REUTERS

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