George Clooney's Good Night, And Good Luck has won a key industry award in the run up to Oscar nominations.

The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures – composed of critics from across America – gave it the best film honour.

President Annie Schulhof described the film, which was shot in black-and-white, as "extraordinary". It deals with Senator Joseph McCarthy's anti-communist witch-hunt of the 1950s.

"It got people talking, and many times," added Schulhof. "That's what a good film does."

Ang Lee won best director for his cowboy romance Brokeback Mountain while Philip Seymour Hoffman got best actor for his portrayal of Truman Capote. Desperate Housewifes' Felicity Huffman was named best actress for her role as a preoperative transsexual in Transamerica.