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 New Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of it quote

The Twilight Saga: New Moon Theatre

Henry Hitchings

quote A smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusion quote

Cock Restaurants

David Sexton

quote Kitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave quote

Kitchen W8

Reader reviews

Film

Adam, Harrow

quote Too long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effects quote

2012 Theatre

Rob, London

quote This is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flaws quote

The Habit Of Art Music

Bernard, London

quote Alex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factor quote

Alexandra Burke

Dame Helen's dress rehearsal

By Alexa Baracaia, Evening Standard 29.01.07

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Glamour: Dame Helen with her award

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Dame Helen Mirren enjoyed a dress rehearsal for the Oscars after scooping yet another major best actress trophy.

The 61-year-old sealed her status as a frontrunner for an Academy Award after scoring a double victory at the Screen Actors Guild ceremony in Los Angeles last night.

Gallery: the Screen Actors Guild awards

The event is widely regarded as a major indicator of success at the Oscars, which are on 25 February. Mirren took best actress for her performance in The Queen as well as best actress in a TV movie for Elizabeth I.

She received her awards in a chiffon-draped cocktail dress. "When I did my costume fitting for The Queen, and I saw those sensible shoes and tweed skirts laid out in a row, I cried," she said. "I thought, 'I can't play anyone who chooses to wear those clothes, I just can't do it'.

"But I learned to love the person who chooses to wear those clothes because I learned to love a person without vanity but with a great sense of discipline, a great sense of duty and a great deal of courage."

Mirren added: "It's been the most incredible year for me, ever. That's been amazing at this end of my life. I'm so proud. Especially being a Brit."

Britons were a big hit at the ceremony. Jeremy Irons took best actor in a TV movie for his role as the Earl of Leicester in Elizabeth I.

Hugh Laurie was named best actor in a TV drama series for his performance as an irascible medic in House. He said: "I am extremely grateful to have been given the chance to play what is to me such a fascinating character and to do it here in America."

British film The Last King Of Scotland secured Forest Whitaker the best actor gong. The American version of the Ricky Gervais comedy The Office won best ensemble for its cast.