Producer Cathy Schulman (L) and director Paul Haggis pose backstage with their Oscars for best picture for "Crash," at the 78th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, March 5, 2006. REUTERS/Mike Blake

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Gritty race relations drama "Crash" pulled a stunning upset at the Oscars winning the best film award over highly favoured gay romance "Brokeback Mountain" in a night heavy with political messages.

Actor Rachel Weisz of Britain poses with her Oscar award for best supporting actress for "The Constant Gardener," at the 78th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood March 5, 2006. REUTERS/Mike Blake

On the home front it was a good, if not overwhelming night for Britain -- Rachel Weisz won the best supporting actress award for playing a social activist who is murdered for her beliefs in thriller "The Constant Gardener, although Judi Dench and Keira Knightley lost out to Reese Witherspoon for the best actress award.

The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" at the 78th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, March 5, 2006. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn

Other local successes came from Nick Park's "Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" which won the Oscar for best animated feature film while "Six Shooter" won in the best short film category.

Philip Seymour Hoffman was named best actor playing homosexual writer Truman Capote in "Capote," while Hollywood sweetheart Witherspoon's performance as country singer June Carter in the Johnny Cash biographical film, "Walk the Line," earned her the best actress Oscar.

Best actor Philip Seymour Hoffman and best actress Reese Witherspoon pose with their Oscars at the 78th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood March 5, 2006. REUTERS/Mike Blake

"Crash," which covers a 36-hour period in Los Angeles as the lives of people of many races collide in a way that highlights bigotry, was a close second to "Brokeback" in Oscar handicapping. Backstage, "Crash" writer/director Paul Haggis said he was "shocked, shocked" with the victory.

"We're still trying to figure out if we got this," he said, clutching his golden trophy in his hand. "None of us expected it. You hope, but we had a tiny picture ... this was a year when Hollywood rewarded rule breakers."

Overall, the movie won three awards including film editing and best original screenplay for Haggis and co-writer Bobby Moresco.

"Brokeback" screenwriter Larry McMurtry told reporters backstage he believed that Crash's setting in Los Angeles helped it because many of the 6,000 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences live in the city.

"Americans don't want cowboys to be gay," McMurtry said.

THANKS AND TEARS

Director Ang Lee (L) and actor George Clooney pose with their Oscars at the Governors Ball after the 78th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood March 5, 2006. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

"Brokeback", about two cowboys who fall into a love affair that spans decades, won three awards overall; Ang Lee as best director, McMurtry and Diana Ossana for best adapted screenplay, and Gustavo Santaolalla for best original score.

Lee thanked the normal list of agents, managers and other Hollywood handlers, but added the fictional characters in the movie he said had taught audiences "the greatness of love, itself."

Fighting back tears when accepting her award, Witherspoon thanked her family, husband actor Ryan Phillippe, and told their young children -- via the TV -- they should be in bed.

"People used to ask June (Carter) how she was doin' and she used to say, 'I'm just trying to matter,'" Witherspoon said. "I know what she means, you know, I'm just trying to matter and live a good life and make work that means something to somebody. You have all made me feel that I might have accomplished that tonight with this honour."

"Crash" and "Brokeback" faced three rivals for the best film Oscar: George Clooney's "Good Night, and Good Luck," Steven Spielberg's "Munich," and "Capote."

"Munich" and "Good Night" failed to win any Oscars, but "Good Night" mastermind Clooney, who also directed and co-wrote the film, did win an Oscar for best supporting actor in his turn as a world-weary CIA agent in the oil industry drama "Syriana."

A range of films won other trophies. Japanese saga "Memoirs of a Geisha" was given three Oscars for costume design, art direction and cinematography.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" won for best makeup. "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" from "Hustle & Flow" was named best original song.

In another surprise, South African film "Tsotsi," was named best foreign language movie over favourite "Paradise Now."

OSCAR POLITICS

Following the plots of many of its message-themed movies, Oscar took a decidedly political tone with winners noting causes, and show host Jon Stewart making wisecracks.

"We are a little bit out-of-touch in Hollywood," Clooney said. "I think that's probably a good thing. We are the ones who talked about AIDS when it was only being whispered ... We talked about civil rights ... I'm proud to be part of this Academy, proud to be part of this community."

Stewart, known for political satire, began the 3-hour and 33-minute telecast by sticking to what he does best -- poking fun at politicians and Hollywood stars.

He reminded audiences of the swan dress Icelandic pop singer Bjork wore several years ago and became a major fashion faux pas on Oscar's red carpet. Stewart said that this year when Bjork was trying on her dress, "Dick Cheney shot her."

"Brokeback Mountain" was released by Focus Features, a unit of NBC Universal, which is controlled by General Electric Co. "Capote" and "Memoirs of a Geisha" were released by Sony Pictures, a unit of Sony Corp.

"Walk the Line" was released by Twentieth Century Fox, a unit of News Corp.. "Crash" was released by Lionsgate, a unit of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. "Syriana" was released by Warner Bros. Pictures, a unit of Time Warner Inc.

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