With its groundbreaking subject matter, acclaimed performances, and expert directing, 鈥Brokeback Mountain鈥 was expected to easily get the Best Picture win. When 鈥淐rash鈥 won instead, accusations of academy homophobia abounded. Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times put it more mildly. He called 鈥淐rash鈥 鈥渁 feel-good film about racism鈥 that allowed academy members to make a progressive vote without getting out of their comfort zones.

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'Crash' won, but many critics felt 'Brokeback Mountain' was clearly the superior film.