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