Having won the Golden Globe and numerous critics’ prizes, Brokeback Mountain—a highly controversial movie about a homosexual affair between two American cowboys—was touted as being a sure thing for winning best picture at the 78th Academy Awards ceremony.

Yet, in one of the most stunning upsets in Hollywood history, the film Crash won the best picture prize.

Brokeback Mountain did, however, win best director and best adapted screenplay. In addition, Philip Seymour Hoffman received the best actor award for playing the title role of a flamboyant homosexual author in the biopic Capote.

The selection of liberal political satirist Jon Stewart to host the awards ceremony was considered in harmony with the nominees selections for best picture, which tended to deal with social or political issues. For example, at least three of the movies nominated for awards popularized homosexual/transgender lifestyles.

On a side note, the film Hustle & Flow won for best song: “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp.”

Source: San Francisco Chronicle