'The Artist' wins big at Critics Choice Awards

Los Angeles: Black-and-white movie 'The Artist', a homage to the silent era of filmmaking, was named the Best Picture at the 17th Annual Critics' Choice Award, cementing its chances at the Oscars next month.

Directed by Michel Hazanavicius, the French film, which has taken both critics and audiences with surprise by offering a window to the bygone era of cinema, also won for the Best Costume Design and Best Score. In the Best Actor category, George Clooney piped Brad Pitt with his role of a father grappling with two young girl when his wife ends up in a coma in 'The Descendants'. Pitt was in competition for his role of a hard-working team manager of a baseball team in 'Moneyball'.

Another big winner was 'The Help', which took home three awards, including Best Actress for Viola Davis, Best Supporting Actress for Octavia Spencer and Best Acting Ensemble. Christopher Plummer won the Best Supporting Actor for his role as a widower who makes the most of the last years of his life after coming out as a gay man in 'Beginners'.

'The Help' upstaged Bridesmaids team to win the trophy for the Best Ensemble. 13-year-old Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close star Thomas Horn upset 'The Descendants' Shailene Woodley for Best Young Actor/Actress. Leonardo DiCaprio joined George Harrison's widow, Olivia, and Bob Dylan to honour Martin Scorsese with the second annual Music + Film Award while Clooney presented Sean Penn with the Joel Siegel Award for his work in earthquake hit Haiti.

Woody Allen's nostalgic drama 'Midnight in Paris' won the award for the Best Original Screenplay while Aaron Sorkin, Steve Zaillian and Stan Chervin took home the trophy for Best Adapted Screenplay for 'Moneyball' from Michael Lewis' book.

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