Cashback Mountain

This weekend wasn't all wardrobes and witches at the US box office, Brokeback Mountain also gave Ang Lee one or two reasons to be cheerful.

The movie, which revolves around the lives of two gay cowboys was only on limited release from Friday but it took an average of 108,910 per screen... and it was only shown on five screens. Producers Focus are capitalising on the buzz by upping it to 50 or 60 screens this coming weekend, continuing to expand if the demand requires it.

If that didn't have Lee buying the beers this weekend, then we're pretty sure he had a tab going by Monday night. The New York Film Critics Circle had jaws on the floor after it awarded the Lee's movie Best Picture and Best Director plaudits. Mouths were gaping due to the fact that the choices mirror those dished out by the rival LA Film Critics Association and the two gangs of picky pundits very rarely agree on anything.

NYFCC's 2005 chairman is Newsday critic Gene Seymour. "I fully expected there to be more of a departure," he said. "Were there more supporters of 'Brokeback' despite the West Coast/East Coast thing? There is a history of differences there, so I honestly don't know why."

Brokeback star Heath Ledger also nabbed the award for Best Actor, the nod for Best Actress went to Reese Witherspoon for her portrayal of June Carter Cash in the much anticipated Johnny Cash biopic, Walk The Line.