THE US: The story of a maths genius and his extraordinary triumph over mental illness, A Beautiful Mind, scooped the film honours at the Golden Globe Awards in California yesterday, with four prizes.
The rich musical Moulin Rouge took second place with three honours, including best musical or comedy film and best actress in a musical for Australian star Nicole Kidman.
A Beautiful Mind, the true story of schizophrenic economist, Mr John Nash, won best dramatic picture, best actor in a dramatic film for fellow Australian Russell Crowe, best supporting actress for Jennifer Connelly and best screenplay.
Both films had come to the awards ceremony as favourites, with six nominations apiece, and left as hot contenders for next month's Oscar nominations.
The Globes are seen by many as a bellwether of a film's Academy Awards potential.
Nicole Kidman had also been nominated for a second award as best actress in a drama for the spooky film, The Others, but lost out to Sissy Spacek.
Oscar laureate Ms Spacek won the Globe for best actress in a drama for her wrenching role as a distraught housewife in In the Bedroom, the story of a couple whose relationship collapses following the murder of their son.
Gene Hackman (71) won the statuette for best actor in a comedy for his role as an outcast father in The Royal Tenenbaums.