As predicted by Glide last week, in a year when best picture nominees thrived on controversy, the Academy Awards’ top honor went to the film that attacked its issues most bluntly.
The Los Angeles social drama “Crash,” which interwove plots and characters from different racial and economic backgrounds in Los Angeles, won best picture honors despite favorite “Brokeback Mountain” winning virtually every other major award it had been up for leading up the the 78th Oscars.
The ensemble film, with a cast that included Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Sandra Bullock and hip-hop star Ludacris, also won awards for best original screenplay and best editing.
“Brokeback Mountain” director Ang Lee won best director for his film about the homosexual relationship that grows between two sheepherders in remote Wyoming.
“Brokeback” writers Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry won the Oscar for best adapted screenplay, and Gustavo Santaolalla took the award for best original score.
hilip Seymour Hoffman and Reese Witherspoon were awarded best actor and actress honors.
Hoffman won for his portrayal of Truman Capote in “Capote,” while Witherspoon won her Oscar for playing June Carter Cash in the Johnny Cash biography, “Walk the Line.”
Rachel Weisz won her first Academy Award for her performance as an impassioned activist who dies under mysterious circumstances in “The Constant Gardener.”
And George Clooney won best supporting actor for his performance as a CIA man who starts unraveling the truth in the political thriller “Syriana.”
