The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) announced the winners for the 11th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards. The 200 members of the BFCA, the largest film critics’ organization in the United States and Canada, representing television, radio and online critics, selected nominees in each of 19 categories. The winners were announced at the Critics’ Choice Awards gala on Monday, January 9, 2006 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The Critics’ Choice Awards were created by the BFCA to recognize excellence in cinematic achievement. Eligible films were released in 2005. The accounting firm of Gregory A. Mogab tallied the written ballots. Historically, the Critics’ Choice Awards are the most accurate predictor of the Academy Award nominations. Dennis Miller hosted the 11th Annual Gala which was televised live on the WB Network.
This year the BFCA gave a special tribute to George Clooney, honoring him with the Freedom Award for illuminating our shared values of freedom, tolerance and democracy with his acclaimed film “Good Night, and Good Luck.” Julia Roberts made her first public appearance since having twins to present the award. Clooney joins an illustrious list of special award recipients at the Critics’ Choice Awards ceremonies. Past honorees have included Tom Cruise, Clint Eastwood, Peter Weir, Denzel Washington, Muhammad Ali, and Steven Spielberg among many others.
King Kong received a special Distinguished Achievement in Performing Arts Award to recognize the revolutionary cinematic achievement in synthesizing visual effects with an actor’s performance to create the character. The award was accepted by actor Andy Serkis, animation director Christian Rivers, animation supervisor Joe Letteri and via special effects, King Kong himself.
“Brokeback Mountain” was the big winner of the night receiving three Critics’ Choice Awards for Best Picture, Best Director for Ang Lee, and Best Supporting Actress for Michelle Williams, who shared her award win with Amy Adams in a tie. “Crash” and “Walk the Line” won two awards each with Reese Witherspoon walking away with Best Actress honors and the film winning Best Soundtrack. The cast of “Crash” was honored as Best Acting Ensemble and Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco received the Best Writer award for the film. Philip Seymour Hoffman was named Best Actor for his stirring performance in “Capote” and Paul Giamatti was recognized as Best Supporting Actor for “Cinderella Man.” “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” was awarded Best Family Film (Live Action) and John Williams won Best Composer for “Memoirs of a Geisha.”
Presenters at the gala included: Jensen Ackles, Joan Allen, Eric Bana, Angela Bassett, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Cedric The Entertainer, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, Brendan Fraser, Colin Hanks, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, John Leguizamo, Virginia Madsen, Chad Michael Murray, Jared Padalecki, Robert Patrick, Joaquin Phoenix, Cast of Rent, Julia Roberts, Rebecca Romijn, Emmy Rossum and Rachel Weisz.
Nominees in attendance included: Amy Adams, Joan Allen, Maria Bello, George Clooney, Matt Dillon, Alex Etel, Jennifer Esposito, Dakota Fanning, Dan Futterman, Paul Giamatti, Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Haggis, Ron Howard, Terrence Howard, Felicity Huffman, Al Kapone, Catherine Keener, Q’ Orianka Kilcher, Ang Lee, Joaquin Phoenix, Cast of Rent, Steven Spielberg, David Strathairn, Charlize Theron, Rachel Weisz, Nancy Wilson and Reese Witherspoon.
Photography is available online at http://www.TheWBpr.com, as well as the latest releases, biographies and other relevant press information for all of The WB's programs.
THE 11TH ANNUAL CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARDS WINNERS
BEST PICTURE:
Brokeback Mountain
BEST ACTOR:
Philip Seymour Hoffman – “Capote”
BEST ACTRESS:
Reese Witherspoon – “Walk the Line”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Paul Giamatti – “Cinderella Man”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Amy Adams – “Junebug”
Michelle Williams – “Brokeback Mountain”
BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE:
Crash
BEST DIRECTOR:
Ang Lee – “Brokeback Mountain”
BEST WRITER:
Paul Gaggis and Bobby Moresco – “Crash”
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE:
“Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit”
BEST YOUNG ACTOR:
Freddie Highmore – “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”
BEST YOUNG ACTRESS:
Dakota Fanning – “War of the Worlds”
BEST COMEDY:
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 FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
Kung Fu Hustle
BEST SONG:
“Hustle & Flow” – performed by Terrence Howard, written by Al Kapone – “Hustle & Flow”
BEST SOUNDTRACK:
Walk the Line
BEST COMPOSER:
John Williams – “Memoirs of a Geisha”
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:
March of the Penguins
