Lord of the Rings big winner at L.A. Film Awards

"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," the current champion at the worldwide box office, was named best picture at the ceremony, and also snagged awards for best director, ensemble cast and composer.

The blue-collar crime saga "Mystic River" won two prizes, best actor and supporting actor, for Sean Penn and Tim Robbins, respectively, while its director, Clint Eastwood, took home a previously announced lifetime achievement award.

Other winners included Charlize Theron as best actress for playing real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos in "Monster," and Renee Zellweger for her supporting turn in the U.S. Civil War drama "Cold Mountain."

The Beverly Hills Hotel event was organized by the Broadcast Film Critics Assn., which bills itself as the largest such group in the United States and Canada, with 182 members from the television, radio and online worlds.

In recent years, the event has proved a good barometer of Oscar success, with the last four best-picture winners going on to take the top prize at the Academy Awards. The Critics' Choice Awards have also matched the director prize seven out of eight times, last year being the exception when fugitive filmmaker Roman Polanski's Oscar win surprised many in Hollywood. More than a third of the group's acting choices have also gone on to win an Oscar.

Source: Reuters.com