Critics pick Capote

US film critics have picked Capote, a biopic about American author Truman Capote, as the best picture of last year.

Capote bested David Cronenberg's thriller A History of Violence by one vote, 12 to 11, but Cronenberg won the best director award given by the National Society of Film Critics.

Capote leading man Philip Seymour Hoffman was named best actor, while Reese Witherspoon won the best actress award for her portrayal of June Carter Cash, wife of country singer Johnny Cash in Walk the Line.

Ed Harris was best supporting actor for his performance as the villain in A History of Violence, and Amy Adams won best supporting actress for Junebug.