Thursday night, at the Critics’ Choice Awards, Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire,” a story about an Indian boy who comes very close to winning a television game show, earned five prizes, the honors having gone to Boyle, writer Simon Beaufoy, star Dev Patel and composer A.R. Rahman.

Director Danny Boyle accepted the award saying that it was amazing to see the generosity the critics had shown towards his movie, which he called a love song to Mumbai.

The Batman movie „The Dark Knight,” which starred the late Heath Ledger as Joker, also won a couple of trophies for best action movie and best supporting actor for the aforementioned Ledger.

When director Christopher Nolan accepted the award for Ledger, the entire crowd rose to their feet, while Nolan said he wouldn’t presume to speak for the actor because his voice was both unique and original, adding that having worked with Heath had been one of the greatest experiences he had had.

In January 2008, Heath Ledger died of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 28.

Sean Penn was a double winner himself, having been awarded the prizes for best actor and shared the acting-ensemble one for the movie „Milk,” in which he portrays slain gay rights activist Harvey Milk.

„Milk” had previously received eight Critics’ Choice Awards nominations, as well as „The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” starring Brad Pitt as a man who ages backwards, but the latter production did not win any of the prizes it had got a nod for.

Kate Winslet was named best supporting actress for her role in „The Reader,” while Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep tied when it came to the best actress category for „Rachel Getting Married” and „Doubt,” respectively.