'Brokeback' bags four BAFTAs

Ang Lee's stunning western is the big winner at the British Academy Awards.

Feb 20 2006

Ang Lee's 'Brokeback Mountain' was the big winner at this year's BAFTAs, walking away with four high-profile awards.

The 'gay cowboy' movie (which the film's producer pointed out was really a gay shepherd movie) picked up best film, best director, best supporting actor for Jake Gylenhaal's performance and best adapted screenplay for Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana brilliant script.

'Brokeback's success meant that British favourite 'The Constant Gardener' netted just one award, for best editing.

The best actor award went to Philip Seymour Hoffman for his remarkable turn in 'Capote', while the best actress award was won by Reese Witherspoon for her fine turn as June Carter in 'Walk the Line'.

Indeed, such was the dominance of Hollywood fare that Thandie Newton was the only Brit to win a major award, picking up best supporting actress for 'Crash'.

Elsewhere Joe Wright won the Carl Foreman award for directorial debut 'Pride & Prejudice', James McAvoy was named Orange Rising Star, 'Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit' won Best British Film and David Puttnam was awarded the Academy Fellowship.

In The TOMB's own gong-giving ceremony (which took place in my head while watching the show last night), Philip Seymour Hoffman won best acceptance speech for thanking his girlfriend and Catherine Keener for being so hot, Thandie Newton won worst acceptance speech for her insufferable gushing, and Ashley Walters won best-dressed star for his unorthadox hooded tuxedo.

Those winners in full:

Best film
'Brokeback Mountain'

The David Lean Award for achievement in direction
Ang Lee - 'Brokeback Mountain'

Best actor in a leading role
Philip Seymour Hoffman - 'Capote'

Best actress in a leading role
Reese Witherspoon - 'Walk the Line'

Best actor in a supporting role
Jake Gyllenhaal - 'Brokeback Mountain'

Best actress in a supporting role
Thandie Newton - 'Crash'

Best British film
'Wallace and Gromit - The Curse of the Were Rabbit'

Best Original screenplay
Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco - 'Crash'

Best Adapted screenplay
Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana - 'Brokeback Mountain'

The Carl Foreman Award for special achievement by a British director/producer or writer in their first feature film
Joe Wright (Director) - 'Pride & Prejudice'

Best film not in the English language
'The Beat the My Heart Skipped'

The Anthony Asquith Award for achievement in film music
John Williams - 'Memoirs of a Geisha'

Cinematography
'Memoirs of a Geisha'

Editing
'The Constant Gardener'

Production design
'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'

Costume design
'Memoirs of a Geisha'

Sound
'Walk the Line'

Special visual effects
'King Kong'

Make Up and Hair
'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'

Short animation film
'Fallen Art'

Short Film
'Antonio's Breakfast'

The Michael Balcon Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema
Robert (Chuck) Finch and Bill Merrell

Academy Fellowship
David Puttnam

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