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The Dark Knight sweeps Empire Movie Awards (2009)

The Dark Knight

Story by Jack Foley

BATMAN sequel The Dark Knight has scooped three prizes at the Empire Awards.

Christian Bale was named best actor, Christopher Nolan best director and the film won the title of best film. Late Australian actor Heath Ledger, who won a posthumous Oscar in February for his portrayal of The Joker in the film, also received a special commemoration award for his life works.

None of the film’s prize-winners were present to accept their awards, although Bale and Nolan both sent video messages expressing their appreciation.

The prizes were voted for by readers of the monthly film magazine, and the awards ceremony – held in central London – attracted stars such as Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle, Tim Burton, James McAvoy and former Bond girl, Gemma Arterton.

Indeed, Arterton was named best newcomer on the night – a prize for which she had been nominated for in the past two years.

And her Bond movie, Quantum Of Solace, in which she has a small role and ends up being covered in oil in homage to the famous Goldfinger scene, was named best thriller.

James McAvoy, currently appearing in the West End in Three Days of Rain collected the best sci-fi prize for violent thriller Wanted, in which he starred alongside Angelina Jolie.

And Helena Bonham Carter was named best actress for her performance in musical drama Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and promptly dedicated the accolade to her partner, and the film’s director, Tim Burton.

Slumdog Millionaire‘s Boyle was presented with the Outstanding Contribution To British Film prize by Andy Bishop, Paul Scott and Alan Knill from his favourite football team, Bury.

And Australian actor Russell Crowe received the Actor Of Our Lifetime prize. Upon receiving it, he recited Rudyard Kipling’s poem If, by way of reference to the 2002 Bafta awards where his recitation of Patrick Kavanagh’s Sanctity was edited out of the TV broadcast.

Viggo Mortensen, meanwhile, was also named Empire Icon for his contribution to world cinema.

Further prizes went to Son Of Rambow, which was named best comedy, and Guy Ritchie’s British gangster flick RockNRolla, which was named Best British Film.