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

Bond star wins best actor award

By This is London 28.03.07

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Daniel Craig is a big hit with the fans

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Bond star Daniel Craig has been named Best Actor for his role as 007 - in awards voted for by the public.

Craig, 39, beat Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen, Johnny Depp for Pirates of the Caribbean and Leonardo DiCaprio for The Departed to the title.

Gallery: See the winning films and stars here

Casino Royale, the movie which saw Craig wow critics and audiences alike for his gritty Bond debut, was named Best Film.

The gong is good news for Craig, after he went away empty-handed from the Baftas despite making history by being the first Bond to be nominated.

French actress Eva Green, 26, was named Best Female Newcomer for her role as Bond's Vesper Lynd, while Superman Returns star Brandon Routh, 27, took Best Male Newcomer.

Spanish actress Penelope Cruz, 32, won the Best Actress Empire Film Award for her role in Volver, pipping Oscar-winner Dame Helen Mirren, 61, for The Queen.

United 93, the harrowing story directed by Paul Greengrass of the only plane hijacked on September 11, 2001, not to reach its target, was named Best British Film.

British director Christopher Nolan took the award for Best Director for The Prestige, the story of rival magicians.

Pan's Labyrinth, set in Franco's Spain, and the comedy Little Miss Sunshine also won awards.

Empire magazine assistant editor Ian Freer said: "I'm delighted that Empire readers have decided that Casino Royale is the best film of the year.

"We're proud that real cinema-goers have the good taste to do something neither the critics' awards or industry prizes managed to do - really get behind the reinvention of James Bond as a great British triumph."

Over 50,000 people voted for the awards organised by film magazine Empire.

THE WINNERS...

Best Film: Casino Royale
Best British Film: United 93
Best Director: Christopher Nolan (The Prestige)
Best Actor: Daniel Craig (Casino Royale)
Best Actress: Penelope Cruz (Volver)
Best Comedy: Little Miss Sunshine
Best Thriller: The Departed
Best Science-Fiction/Fantasy: Pan's Labyrinth
Best Horror: Hostel
Best Male Newcomer: Brandon Routh (Superman Returns)
Best Female Newcomer: Eva Green (Casino Royale)
Scene Of The Year: M:I-3 - The Bridge Sequence