Atonement was nominated for seven Golden Globes on Thursday

James McAvoy, Keira Knightley and their director Joe Wright have all received nominations, while their World War II drama is up for best British film.

George Clooney is up for actor of the year, as is the late Ulrich Muehe, star of German movie The Lives of Others.

The awards will be held on 8 February in London in aid of the NSPCC.

Based on the novel by Ian McEwan, Atonement is emerging as one of the main contenders as the annual awards season begins in earnest.

Control, a biopic of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, has received seven nominations - two of them for its lead actor Sam Riley.

Breakthrough

The London critics give awards to films, directors and actors, with separate categories for UK movies and talent.

However, this has not stopped Britain's Daniel Day-Lewis being nominated for actor of the year overall, for oil prospecting saga There Will Be Blood.

The Lives of Others actor Muehe died in July at the age of 54

His film will compete for the film of the year prize alongside the Coen brothers' thriller No Country for Old Men and action adventure The Bourne Ultimatum.

Atonement's competition for the British film award - named in honour of Lord Attenborough - includes crime drama Eastern Promises.

Though directed by a Canadian, horror maestro David Cronenberg, the film was wholly shot in London.

Angelina Jolie is among the nominees in the best actress category, with Knightley, Sienna Miller and Helena Bonham Carter included in its British equivalent.

The Golden Compass star Dakota Blue Richards, meanwhile, is one of five actors nominated for the British breakthrough prize.