The Artist wins four prizes at Critics' Choice Awards

Silent film The Artist was the big winner at this year's Critics' Choice Awards, winning four prizes.

The movie took the evening's top award, best picture, as well as best score, best costume design and best director for France's Michel Hazanavicius. The Help won three gongs including best actress for Viola Davis. George Clooney won best actor for The Descendants. The Help, which was based on Kathryn Stockett's best-selling novel, is the story of African-American maids who are persuaded by a young white woman to secretly work with her on a book about their lives during the US civil-rights movement. The BBC says Octavia Spencer, who co-stars in the movie as a feisty, defiant domestic servant called Minny, scooped best supporting actress - while the film's cast were named the best acting ensemble. (BBC)