Argo, Silver Linings Playbook dominate Critics' Choice Awards

Hours after a surprise snub in Academy Award nominations, Affleck won best director and his film "Argo" was named best picture at the Santa Monica, California ceremony.

"Silver Linings Playbook" was named Best Comedy with actress Jennifer Lawrence scooping the Best Actress In A Comedy prize and co-star Cooper picked up the male equivalent.

The cast was also honoured with the Best Acting Ensemble.

Expressing his delight Kher tweeted, "Silver Linings Playbook wins The Critics' Choice Award for Best Ensemble Cast and I win my first. What a Fantastic Beginning."

Lawrence added another trophy to her haul when she was named Best Actress In An Action Movie for "The Hunger Games".

Jessica Chastain choked back tears as she accepted the Best Actress accolade for her role in "Zero Dark Thirty", and Daniel Day-Lewis received a standing ovation as he was presented with the Best Actor award for "Lincoln".

Daniel Craig scored a Best Actor in an Action Movie honour for his portrayal of James Bond in "Skyfall", which stunned the experts by beating both "The Dark Knight Rises" and "The Avengers" for the Best Action Movie title.

Adele's theme tune for the blockbuster, which also picked up an Oscar nomination earlier in the day, landed the Best Song trophy.

The Best Supporting Actress gong went to Anne Hathaway for her portrayal of prostitute Fantine in movie musical "Les Miserables" and Philip Seymour Hoffman was named Best Supporting Actor award for his role in "The Master".

Both started the day with Academy Award nominations, as did child star Quvenzhane Wallis, who grabbed the Critics' Choice Best Young Actor/Actress trophy for her role in "Beasts of the Southern Wild".

The nine-year-old, who became the youngest ever Academy Awards Best Actress nominee in history, brought smiles to guests' faces as she read out her acceptance speech from her iPhone.