Bookies get 'Crash' Oscar hopes up

Odds slashed: 'Crash'

Bookies have slashed the odds of Crash taking the best film Oscar, though Brokeback Mountain remains favourite.

William Hill cut the race-awareness film's odds from 8/1 to 6/4, while Brokeback Mountain is ahead at 1/2.

Meanwhile, a fundamentalist US Christian group has collected 61,000 signatures to a letter protesting Brokeback Mountain's eight nominations.

A statement from The Center for Reclaiming America for Christ said the film's recognition "is just a high-profile attempt to mainstream the homosexual agenda." Its storyline – about gay cowboys – was "offensive to the vast majority of Americans," according to the centre.

Best Picture Odds

1/2 - Brokeback Mountain
6/4 - Crash
20/1 - Good Night, and Good Luck
20/1 - Munich
25/1 – Capote

Source: William Hill