1. Tulpan: Remarkable romantic comedy set among a nomadic tribe in Kazakhstan.
2. An Education: Nick Hornby's sensitive adaptation of journlaist Lynn Barber's excellent memoir of her first boyfriend.
3. The White Ribbon: Michael Hameke's Palme d'Or winner at Cannes is set in a German village just before the start of the First World War.
4. 2012: Roland Emmerich's thrilling apocalypse movie with John Cusack as the hero.
5. Fantastic Mr Fox: Wes Anderson’s take on Roald Dahl is full of quirky magic — with a sly George Clooney voicing Mr Fox.

Critics' Choice

Film

Andrew O'Hagan

quote An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance quote

2012 Theatre

Fiona Mountford

quote The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C quote

Blood Brothers Music

John Aizlewood

quote The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed quote

Muse

Reader reviews

Theatre

Rachel Dalziel

quote I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play quote

Gilbert Is Dead Restaurants

Raja, London

quote I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food quote

Babbo Music

Katy, London

quote Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW! quote

Muse

Mirren reigns supreme

By Valentine Low, Evening Standard 08.01.07

Add your view

Mirren: crowned best actress by New York critics

Look here too

The Prime Minister managed to make it, as did The Last King of Scotland - but The Queen was unavoidably detained.

Helen Mirren was one of the stars honoured at the New York Film Critics' Circle awards ceremony last night when she was named best actress for her performance in the Stephen Frears movie, The Queen.

She was unable to attend, but Michael Sheen, who played the Prime Minister in th film, was at the ceremony.

Forest Whitaker, named best actor for his performance as Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland - scripted by Peter Morgan, as was The Queen - was one of the first stars to turn up for the show at New York's Supper Club.

Martin Scorsese was honoured as best director for The Departed. The awards, are seen as a forerunner for the Oscars and three of the stars from the film - Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg - were there to see him receive his award. As Mark Wahlberg said: "If a guy like Marty calls, you show up. I hope it's his year (for the Oscar). I'm going to vote for him; he's my guy!"

Robin Williams was present to accept the award for Happy Feet as best animated film, bringing the house down when he deadpanned: "I accept this on behalf of all gay penguins."

The best film award went to United 93, the story of the hijacked 9/11 plane which crashed in Pennsylvania after the passengers tried to storm the cabin.

Director Paul Greengrass said that winning the New York critics' award had an especial significance for him: "If anyone would hold this movie to account, it's the city of New York."

The main winners
Best film: United 93
Best director: Martin Scorsese, The Departed
Best screenplay: Peter Morgan, The Queen
Best actress: Helen Mirren, The Queen
Best actor: Forest Whitaker, The Last King Of Scotland
Supporting actress: Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Supporting actor: Jackie Earle Haley, Little Children
Cinematography: Guillermo Navarro, Pan's Labyrinth
Animated film: Happy Feet
Best foreign film: Army Of Shadows