Viewers Split On Oscar's Top Six

Oscar voters' surprise selection of "Crash" as best picture, a result being ranked among the biggest upsets in Academy Awards history, also tripped up CBSNews.com viewers who responded to a voluntary poll posted on the Web site prior to the awards.

"Crash," featuring a huge cast in crisscrossing story lines over a chaotic 36-hour period in Los Angeles, rode a late surge of praise that lifted it past "Brokeback Mountain," a film that had won most other key Hollywood honors.

But CBSNews.com viewers gave the nod to "Brokeback Mountain," as the cowboy romance took 48 percent of the votes in the non-scientific poll.

"Crash" did finish second among viewers, garnering 26 percent of the votes. "Good Night, and Good Luck" was next with 13 percent, followed by "Capote" with 8 percent and "Munich" with 5 percent.

On a night when six different films split the top six Oscars, viewers were also split when it came to tabbing the winners in the remaining five categories, correctly identifying three of them.

Ang Lee's win in the Directing category for "Brokeback Mountain" was supported by 51 percent of the respondents to the CBSNews.com poll. George Clooney, who directed "Good Night, and Good Luck," finished second with 26 percent. Steven Spielberg ("Munich") and Paul Haggis ("Crash") were next, with Spielberg getting just over 10 percent of the votes and Haggis just under 10 percent. "Capote" director Bennett Miller received 3 percent.

Reese Witherspoon's selection as Best Actress was the most popular among respondents. Her performance as June Carter in "Walk The Line" was embraced by 53 percent of those who cast votes. Felicity Huffman's efforts in "Transamerica" received 25 percent. The remaining three actresses were tightly bunched, with Keira Knightley ("Pride & Prejudice") receiving 8 percent of votes, Charlize Theron ("North Country") 7 percent and Dame Judi Dench ("Mrs. Henderson Presents") 6 percent.

Poll respondents disagreed with Academy voters again on best actor. While Philip Seymour Hoffman took home the statuette for his performance as Truman Capote in "Capote," CBSNews.com viewers preferred Joaquin Phoenix' portrayal of Johnny Cash in "Walk The Line."

Phoenix received 36 percent of the votes to Hoffman's 26 percent. Heath Ledger ("Brokeback Mountain") was next with 18 percent, David Strathairn ("Good Night, and Good Luck") got 12 percent and Terrence Howard ("Hustle and Flow") 8 percent.

Best supporting actor was the closest vote among respondents who correctly tabbed George Clooney ("Syrianna") the winner, but by the slimmest of margins. Clooney received 34.94 percent of the votes, which just edged Jake Gyllenhaal ("Brokeback Mountain"), who received 34.57 percent. Matt Dillon ("Crash") with 15 percent, Paul Giamatti ("Cinderella Man") with 11 percent, and William Hurt (A History of Violence"), 4 percent, rounded out the voting.

Rachel Weisz won best supporting actress for her role in "The Constant Gardner," which proved to be a minor upset for respondents as well. Michelle Williams ("Brokeback Mountain") was the choice among poll voters with 37 percent. Weisz was next with 33 percent. Frances McDormand got 16 percent for her role in "North Country," while Katharine Keener ("Capote") got 9 percent and Amy Adams ("Junebug") 5 percent.