Judi Dench

The British Film Institute named Kenneth Branagh's version of Shakespeare's "Henry V" the year's best film. Dame Judi Dench presented the award Sunday to the film's producer, Stephen Evans. The film also won the technical achievement award. Branagh, who directed the film and performed the title role, was working in California but telephoned his acceptance.

Filming is scheduled to begin in England Monday on the 20th James Bond film, with Pierce Brosnan back to play Agent 007 and Judi Dench as his boss, "M." There's no title yet, but there is a release date: Nov. 22 this year.

The skinny: Helen Mirren's performance in "The Queen" is being heralded by critics. She received early kudos this summer at the Venice Film Festival. Will she sustain her hold on first place? *--* 1 Helen Mirren, "The Queen" 2 Penelope Cruz, "Volver" 3 Judi Dench, "Notes on a Scandal" 4 Meryl Streep, "The Devil Wears Prada" 5 Kate Winslet, "Little Children" *--* Log on to TheEnvelope.com for more of this week's Buzzmeter rankings.

THEATER Final lineup: South Coast Repertory will present the West Coast premiere of David Hare's "Amy's View," April 14 to May 14. Oscar-winner Judi Dench won a Tony for the Broadway production, but no SCR casting has been announced. Hare wrote two previous SCR productions: "The Secret Rapture" from 1990 and last season's "Skylight." He also wrote the "The Blue Room," performed recently on Broadway starring Nicole Kidman.

Monicas, Noon and 6 p.m. An attempt by Derek Jarman, the controversial director of "Sebastiane" and "Caravaggio," to evoke homosexual longing through blurred, step-printed images of Calvin Klein-Bruce Weber-type young males in various locales accompanied, on occasion, by Judi Dench's eloquent reading of Shakespearean sonnets. At 20 minutes "The Angelic Conversation" might just have seemed poetic; at 78, it's a pretentious bore.

Following are reviews for the American Film Institute Film Festival. All screenings are at the Cineplex Odeon Century Plaza Cinemas . 'Saigon--Year of the Cat' England, 1985, 104 minutes, 7:45 p.m . Stephen Frears' and David Hare's TV film on the fall of Saigon--made before "My Beautiful Laundrette"--begins badly, with unconvincing sets and some perfunctory performances. But stay with it.

Best Picture: "Shakespeare in Love" Best Director: Steven Spielberg, "Saving Private Ryan" Best Actor: Roberto Benigni, "Life Is Beautiful" Best Actress: Gwyneth Paltrow, "Shakespeare in Love" Best Supporting Actress: Judi Dench, "Shakespeare in Love" Best Supporting Actor: James Coburn, "Affliction" Best Original Screenplay: Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, "Shakespeare in Love" Best Adapted Screenplay: Bill Condon, "Gods and Monsters" SCORECARD: The five nominated for best picture and the number

Get ready for some sigh-worthy amore, British style. "Masterpiece" (KCET, tonight at 9) airs a new production, adapted by Andrew Davies, of the E.M. Forster classic "A Room With a View," which was last filmed in 1985 by James Ivory, starring Maggie Smith, Helena Bonham Carter and Judi Dench. Elaine Cassidy is now Lucy Honeychurch, who arrives at an Italian guest house and is offered a room with a view by Mr. Emerson (Rafe Spall) and his eccentric son, George (Timothy Spall).

Miramax Films, noted for films based on contemporary literary works, has had mixed success -- both critically and commercially -- with them. The English Patient (1996), based on the 1992 novel by Michael Ondaatje. It delivered nine Oscars, including best picture and best supporting actress Juliette Binoche, as well as $232 million at the box office. The Cider House Rules (1999), based on John Irving's 1985 novel.