'The Departed' named Broadcast Critics' best picture

The tide may indeed be turning in this year's awards race, as Martin Scorsese's "The Departed" won best picture and best director at the 12th annual Critics' Choice Awards on Friday night at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The once seemingly-unbeatable "Dreamgirls" too home four awards -- best supporting actor for Eddie Murphy, best supporting actress for Jennifer Hudson, best song for "Listen," performed by Beyonce Knowles, and best soundtrack -- but in the increasingly rancorous world of awards punditry, both online and off, the film will surely be perceived as having its fortunes on the wane.

"Little Miss Sunshine" also walked away with four awards, for best acting ensemble, best writer for Michael Arndt, best young actor for Paul Dano and best young actress for Abigail Breslin.

The lead acting categories went in line with numerous other critics and awards groups, giving best actress to Helen Mirren for "The Queen" and best actor to Forest Whitaker for "The Last King Of Scotland."

"Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" won best comedy movie. "Cars" won best animated feature and "Charlotte's Web" won best family film (Live Action).

Best foreign language film went to "Letters From Iwo Jima," directed by Clint Eastwood, while best picture made for television went to "Elizabeth I."

Philip Glass won best composer for his score to "The Illusionist." Best documentary went to "An Inconvenient Truth."

The awards are voted on by the 200 members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, who represent television, radio and online critics. The awards ceremony will be broadcast on E! Entertainment Television on Jan. 20.