The Artist confirmed its status as Oscar frontrunner after it triumphed in last night's Critics' Choice Movie awards, taking home four prizes including best picture and best score, as well best director for Michel Hazanavicius.

The awards are voted for by the 250-strong Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), and the cast of The Help cleaned up in the acting categories, winning best acting ensemble, as well as individual awards for Viola Davis (best actress) and Octavia Spencer (best supporting actress for her role as outspoken maid Minny).

On the "ninth most exciting night in Hollywood", according to hosts Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel, George Clooney was named best actor for The Descendants, and best supporting actor went to Christopher Plummer for Beginners, who said of the award, "being honoured by the critics is like being on a three-week binge with the enemy ... but I'm cool with it". Thomas Horn won best young actor/actress for his role as Oskar in the adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer's novel, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

List of main award winners

Best Picture: The Artist

Best Actor: George Clooney, The Descendants

Best Actress: Viola Davis, The Help

Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, The Help

Best Young Actor/Actress: Thomas Horn, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Best Acting Ensemble: The Help

Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

Best Original Screenplay: Midnight in Paris

Best Adapted Screenplay: Moneyball

Best Animated Feature: Rango

Best Comedy: Bridesmaids

Best Foreign Language Film: A Separation

Best Documentary: George Harrison: Living in the Material World

Best Action Movie: Drive

Best Song: Life's a Happy Song, (Jason Siegel, Amy Adams & Walter), The Muppets