‘Departed,’ Scorsese win Critics’ Choice awards

“The Departed” won best picture and Martin Scorsese won best director for his work on the gangster film at the 12th annual Critics’ Choice Awards on Friday at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

The lavish musical “Dreamgirls” took 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.

The comedy “Little Miss Sunshine” also received four awards: best acting ensemble, best writer for Michael Arndt, best young actor for Paul Dano and best young actress for Abigail Breslin.

The awards in the lead acting categories were in line with those of numerous other groups, giving honors for 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, and best picture made for television went to “Elizabeth I,” with Mirren in the title role.

Philip Glass won best composer for his score to “The Illusionist.” Best documentary went to “An Inconvenient Truth,” featuring Al Gore.

The awards are voted on by the 200 members of the Broadcast Film Critics Assn., who represent television, radio and online critics.

The ceremony will be broadcast on E! Entertainment Television on Saturday.