CRITICS' AWARDS KEEP COMING FOR FILM TRIO.

Byline: Kirk Honeycut Hollywood Reporter

``Fargo,'' ``The English Patient'' and ``Jerry Maguire'' continue to rack up awards. ``Fargo'' and ``The English Patient'' won two honors apiece, and ``Jerry Maguire'' picked up three awards in the second annual Critics Choice voting by the Broadcast Film Critics Association.

The dark comedy ``Fargo'' was honored as best picture, and Frances McDormand, who played the pregnant police detective in the Coen brothers' film, was voted best actress. Meanwhile, Anthony Minghella won awards for best director and screenplay for the romantic drama ``The English Patient.''

Cuba Gooding Jr., who portrayed a pro football player looking for a better contract in ``Jerry Maguire,'' was voted best supporting actor. Jonathan Lipnichi won best child performance for the same film, while Renee Zellweger, who previously acted in indie films, was named breakout artist of the year for her role as Tom Cruise's love interest in ``Jerry Maguire.''

Geoffrey Rush, who portrayed a concert pianist fighting mental illness in the Australian film ``Shine,'' was voted best actor.

Joan Allen, who played a betrayed wife in Puritan New England in ``The Crucible,'' was named best supporting actress.

The French film ``Ridicule,'' which explored the role of wit in the court of Louis XVI, was honored as best foreign-language film. ``When We Were Kings,'' which focused on the 1974 ``Rumble in the Jungle'' title fight in Zaire between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, was voted best documentary.

``Fly Away Home'' was honored as best family film.

Formed a year ago, the BFCA consists of 84 television, radio and online film critics across the country. They cast ballots during a two-week period.

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Photo: Broadcast film critics voted ``Fargo's'' Frances McDormand best actress.