Critical Week: Britain on the march

It's been a month since my last blog - hope you enjoyed the Christmas and New Year holiday! I know I did, but things are cranking up once again, mainly on the awards season front, as British talent storms its way through, sweeping up an almost ludicrous number of accolades - with Slumdog Millionaire's overall domination echoed in Kate Winslet's double Globe win and double Bafta nomination. Oscar nominations are announced on Thursday, so things are about to get even more crazed. In the meantime, I'm working with the committee to organise the London Critics' Circle Film Awards, which will be handed out at a glitsy dinner ceremony on February 4th.

Meanwhile, my screenings are back up to speed, although this isn't a notoriously promising time of year for movies, as the prestige films are behind us. Over the past week or so, I've had less than thrilling movies like Bride Wars, Hotel for Dogs, My Bloody Valentine 3D, The Unborn and Outlander - although at least all of those have some guilty pleasure value. There have also been more challenging indie or foreign films like Helen, Hannah Takes the Stairs, Three Monkeys and Katyn. Plus rather a lot of interviews at press junkets for Doubt and Milk.

Coming up this next week is Tom Cruise's Valkyrie, which they've finally decided to show to the UK press, Viggo Mortensen in Good, the British period romp The Young Victoria, Ryan Phillippe and Sam Riley in Franklyn and Ben Kingsley in Fifty Dead Men Walking.