"Crash" wins best film in Oscar stunner

LOS ANGELES, Mar 6 (Reuters) ''Crash,'' the race relations drama that has captivated Hollywood, pulled off a stunning upset at the Oscars 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 Theatre 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 Anerican cinema.'' Only moments earlier, Lee had accepted his trophy for directing ''Brokeback,'' and it seemed certain his movie would claim the best film trophy.

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