'Master and Commander' wins best film in British awards

<br>LONDON (AP) _ The seafaring epic ``Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World'' won three awards, including best film, from the London Film Critics' Circle. <br><br>But the group's

Thursday, February 12th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LONDON (AP) _ The seafaring epic ``Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World'' won three awards, including best film, from the London Film Critics' Circle.

But the group's 100 critics gave no awards Wednesday night to another major Oscar contender, ``The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,'' the final installment in the trilogy, which had been nominated for best film and best director.

The directing award went to Clint Eastwood for ``Mystic River'' and Sean Penn, one of the film's stars, won best actor.

Paul Bettany won best British actor for ``Master and Commander,'' and John Collee and Peter Weir won for best screenwriter in the film based on the fiction of Patrick O'Brian.

Julianne Moore was named best actress for ``Far From Heaven,'' and Anne Reid won the best British actress award for ``The Mother.''

From the romantic comedy ``Love Actually,'' Emma Thompson and Bill Nighy won the best British supporting actor categories.

The German film ``Goodbye Lenin'' won best foreign language film.

London Film Critics' Circle chairman William Russell praised ``Master and Commander,'' saying it deserved to sweep the board.

``The British are an island race, which is probably why 'Master and Commander,' a rip-roaring tale of life at sea in the age of sail, swept the board in our awards,'' he said.

Members of the London Film Critics' Circle write for newspapers and magazines published across the United Kingdom.