After returning bare-handed from the Oscars and the BAFTA awards, Atonement has now swept the British audiences vote registering a win in all the major categories at the Empire magazine awards.
London, Mar 10 : After returning bare-handed from the Oscars and the BAFTA awards, 'Atonement' has now swept the British audience's vote registering a win in all the major categories at the Empire magazine awards.
The audience's verdict certainly came the 'Atonement' way, as it was named the Best British Film with its stars Keira Knightley and James McAvoy bagging the Best Actress and Best Actor gongs respectively.
Totalling its award count to 3, the Ian McEwan adaptation ruled the popular choice with one million online users voting in its favour at the Grosvenor House ceremony, attended by stars including Matt Damon and Ewan McGregor.
According to Empire editor, Mark Dinning the British film category was the strongest yet with 'Atonement' closely beating 'Control', the story of singer Ian Curtis and skinhead drama, 'This Is England'.
"The readers have put the record straight. Atonement was a tremendous British film which generated a lot of support from the audience," Times Online quoted Dinning, as saying.
The Best film was taken by 'The Bourne Ultimatum', the 200 million pounds grossing final instalment in the acclaimed spy trilogy, starring Damon.
"It is a terrific, smart movie as well as a massive box office hit. Paul Greengrass (the British director) has shown he is a master of many different film genres," said Dinning.
David Yates, an English television director was a surprise winner grabbing the Best Director for 'Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix'
"He took the weakest of the Potter books and turned it into the best film so far," said Dinning.
Empire's Inspiration Award was handed over to Guillermo del Toro, the cult Mexican director who plays with horror and fantasy together.
The Outstanding Contribtion to British film prize was given to Shane Meadows, the Nottingham writer-director who has made a series of films observing English subcultures.
With his near-reality portrayal Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, Sam Riley, the Leeds actor was named Best Newcomer.
The winners of the Empire magazine awards are:
Best Film - The Bourne Ultimatum
Best British Film - Atonement
Best Actor - James McAvoy (Atonement)
Best Actress - Keira Knightley (Atonement)
Best Director - David Yates (Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix)
Best Newcomer - Sam Riley (Control)
Outstanding Contribution To British Film Award - Shane Meadows
Empire Icon - Ewan MacGregor
Empire Inspiration Award - Guillermo Del Toro
Best Thriller - American Gangster
Best Comedy - Hot Fuzz
Best Soundtrack - Control
Best Horror - 28 Weeks Later
Best Sci-fi/Fantasy - Stardust
ANI