In case you’ve been living in a cave or have been on a social media hiatus or something, we at The Blueprint have decided to continue last year’s excitement and come back with the ICON Awards. The nominees can be found in our previous post about it here but they’ll be included in the post as well for the sake of presentation.
We’ll be going in nomination order and ending with the highest honour The Blueprint has to offer: The Golden Onion The debut of our “ICON of the Year” award, bestowed upon an individual who has demonstrated an exceptional contribution to cinema and our lives over the past year and beyond. Stick around to find out who we chose!
So, without further preamble, here is a reminder of the nominees and the announcement of the winners of this year’s ICON Awards.
CUTEST ANIMAL
The nominees are:
- Monchi the Dog (The Mitchells vs the Machines)
- Odi the Dog (Aftermath)
- Peter the Cat (The Electrical Life of Louis Wain)
- Punch the Cat (The Woman in the Window)
- Sebastian the Rat (The Suicide Squad)
And the ICON Award goes to…
MONCHI THE DOG – THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINES
You only have to really look at Monchi to understand this pick, but he is consistently cute and hilarious throughout the whole movie and honestly, we could’ve nominated him for Scene Stealer he’s so adorable. Plus he has characterisation, which helps him be even cuter!
MOST ELIGIBLE BOYFRIEND
The nominees are:
- David Alvarez (West Side Story)
- Jon Bernthal (King Richard/Those Who Wish Me Dead)
- Joe Keery (Free Guy)
- Joel Kinnaman (The Suicide Squad)
- Herbert Nordrum (The Worst Person in the World)
- Jason Segel (Our Friend)
And the ICON Award goes to…
JOE KEERY – FREE GUY
This is a very tough category to decide on for two people who have intense hyperfixations on fictional characters and their portrayers, but in the end, our hearts were won over by the delightful Joe Keery as Keys in Free Guy. His chemistry with Jodie Comer’s Millie and intense dedication to doing the right thing should have been enough to clinch it on their own, but the sexy chair slides and that beautiful mess of hair…that’s just icing on the cake.
MOST ELIGIBLE GIRLFRIEND
The nominees are:
- Jodie Comer (Free Guy)
- Ariana DeBose (West Side Story)
- Vanessa Kirby (The World to Come)
- Léa Seydoux (No Time to Die)
- Renate Reinsve (The Worst Person in the World)
- Meng’er Zhang (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings)
And the ICON Award goes to…
ARIANA DEBOSE – WEST SIDE STORY
DeBose’s magnificently played Anita has got it all: gorgeous dresses, a good head on her shoulders, and the ability to sing and dance like nobody else around. We just think she’d make a really good girlfriend. She’s starting her own business, she’s fierce and protective, and plus she’s absolutely stunning. What more could one what?
SCENE STEALER
The nominees are:
- Richard Ayoade (The Souvenir Part II)
- Timothée Chalamet (Don’t Look Up)
- Bradley Cooper (Licorice Pizza)
- Daniela Melchior (The Suicide Squad)
- Jason Momoa (Dune)
- Rita Moreno (West Side Story)
- Florence Pugh (Black Widow)
And the ICON Award goes to…
RICHARD AYOADE – THE SOUVENIR PART II
As far as scene-stealing goes, Ayoade absolutely does the most. He has quite a minimal amount of screen time in The Souvenir Part II but boy does he make an impact! His singular approach to his vision might have bristled a few characters, but we couldn’t stop thinking about the sheer magnetism of his presence for so long after the movie ended.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD
The nominees are:
- McKenna Grace (Ghostbusters: Afterlife)
- Jude Hill (Belfast)
- Jack Nielen (Spencer)
- Woody Norman (C’mon C’mon)
- Joséphine and Gabriella Sanz (Petite Maman)
And the ICON Award goes to…
WOODY NORMAN – C’MON C’MON
As impressive all of the nominees were, this is sort of a no-brainer here. Norman goes toe to toe with Joaquin Phoenix, one of the greatest actors we have and Norman makes his own impact with a thoughtful, beyond-his-years performance that will surely set him up to have an illustrious career. Here’s hoping he continues to select projects that capitalise on his quiet wisdom as an actor. Add on the fact that we didn’t know he was British until the BAFTAs…yeah this kid is going places.
BIGGEST SURPRISE
The nominees are:
- CODA
- Language Lessons
- Malignant
- The Novice
- Our Friend
- Red Rocket
And the ICON Award goes to…
LANGUAGE LESSONS
For a film that sort of come out of nowhere, as well as coming to us at a time where the Zoom format was starting to wear thin, Natalie Morales’ authentic Language Lessons took us by surprise with not following a typical formula and being as emotionally resonant as it was. Neither of us expected the turns it was going to take, especially very early on, and we both ended up loving it.
BEST MOVIE PARENT
The nominees are:
- Leto Atreides (Dune)
- Linda Mitchell (The Mitchells vs the Machines)
- Oracene Price (King Richard)
- Frank Rossi (CODA)
- Diana Spencer (Spencer)
- Vincent (Titane)
And the ICON Award goes to…
LINDA MITCHELL – THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINES
Just look at those glasses!
Linda Mitchell is sort of the middle woman in her family, especially in the relationship between Katie and Rick’s fraught father and daughter tension. She tries to keep the peace admirably and often plays the peacemaker. If that’s not enough, she also kicks robot ass in the quest to save her family. We love her for it.
BEST CHEMISTRY
The nominees are:
- Lauren Ridloff & Barry Keoghan (Eternals)
- Sebastian Stan & Denise Gough (Monday)
- Bradley Cooper & Cate Blanchett (Nightmare Alley)
- Daniel Craig & Léa Seydoux (No Time to Die)
- David Alvarez & Ariana DeBose (West Side Story)
And the ICON Award goes to…
SEBASTIAN STAN & DENISE GOUGH – MONDAY
Okay, is it cheating to a pick that’s mostly about a couple having a lot of really steamy sex during a sweltering Grecian summer? Perhaps, but Stan and Gough achieve something that’s extremely difficult to fake: genuinely physical and emotional chemistry. The movie wouldn’t have worked at all without them, so it’s a testament to their chemistry that it was good.
ONE TO WATCH
The nominees are:
- Janicza Bravo
- Nia DaCosta
- Lauren Hadaway
- Sian Heder
- Fran Kranz
And the ICON Award goes to…
JANICZA BRAVO
Zola is one of those films that will not leave us alone and Bravo’s bold, stylised approach to the infamous Twitter thread is a big part of the reason why. The film grabs you from the first moment and Bravo’s exciting attention to style and form promises more exciting work from her off the back of Zola. We frankly can’t wait to see what she pulls off next.
BEST USE OF SONG
The nominees are:
- “Both Sides Now” (CODA)
- “Bye Bye Bye” (Red Rocket)
- “Downtown” (Last Night in Soho)
- “Every Letter” (Cyrano)
- “Somewhere” (West Side Story)
- “Why” (tick, tick…BOOM!)
And the ICON Award goes to…
“SOMEWHERE” – WEST SIDE STORY
The decision to have Rita Moreno’s Valentina (a clever reworking of the Doc character) sing this in a tightly framed space, her voice full of emotion and the legacy of her relationship with the story of the film, was an excellent one and brings even more meaning and nuance to a song that’s already stacked with emotional depth.
BEST COSTUMING
The nominees are:
- Cruella
- Cyrano
- Spencer
- West Side Story
- Zola
And the ICON Award goes to…
CRUELLA – JENNY BEAVAN
Two-time Oscar winner Jenny Beavan designing costumes for a film that’s about fashion? That feels like Disney setting the film up for an ICON win right off the bat! It’s fully deserved, a plethora of outfits for different purposes and events standing out amongst the best things about the film. It’s a huge talking point once the film has ended and it just goes to show that Beavan did her job admirably.
BIGGEST SNUB
The nominees are:
- Mike Faist (West Side Story)
- Jennifer Hudson (Respect)
- Emilia Jones (CODA)
- Everyone (Mass)
- Renate Reinsve (The Worst Person in the World)
- Tessa Thompson (Passing)
And the ICON Award goes to…
MIKE FAIST – WEST SIDE STORY
Oh, Mike Faist…awards season truly did not do your performance justice. Faist is a standout in the beloved film, the Academy and other bodies recognised it in major categories elsewhere, so it doesn’t really make sense why Faist was excluded from that attention. He should’ve been a major threat to win for the season. Oh well, he has an ICON Award and that is absolutely more valuable.
BEST SCENE
The nominees are:
- Stargazing (CODA)
- The Rope (The Power of the Dog)
- Opening (A Quiet Place Part II)
- Candlelight Christmas Eve (Spencer)
- America (West Side Story)
- Party (The Worst Person in the World)
And the ICON Award goes to…
PARTY – THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD
In a movie stacked full of important, emotional moments, the scene where Julie crashes a party has to be up there with the most memorable. This sees her make one of her first important choices in the movie, choosing to embark on a flirtation with the attractive, alluring Eivind despite them both being in relationships. The scene makes the most of its actors and the script and becomes a fascinating character study in a film that’s full of character studies.
MOST OVERLOOKED PERFORMANCE
The nominees are:
- Ben Affleck (The Last Duel)
- Bradley Cooper (Nightmare Alley)
- Jodie Comer (The Last Duel)
- Ashley Greene (Aftermath)
- Rebecca Hall (The Night House)
- Riley Keough (Zola)
And the ICON Award goes to…
JODIE COMER – THE LAST DUEL
You would think that Emmy-Award winning actress Jodie Comer playing a tough, complex role in a Ridley Scott period epic would be enough to garner some attention from the large scope of critics and industry members throughout awards season, but apparently not. If Comer were simply just ‘good’ in the role, it might be understandable, but she gives an exceptional performance as she always does and brings incredible depth and nuance to a really challenging role told through several different perspectives. We’ll be screaming about this one for a while.
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST
The nominees are:
- CODA
- Dune
- Mass
- West Side Story
- Zola
And the ICON Award goes to…
MASS
Honestly, this wasn’t difficult. Mass is a tour de force in acting, with Birney, Dowd, Isaacs, and Plimpton giving heart-rending, unforgettable performances in this contained and emotional drama. With the camera rarely straying from their faces and reactions, the film requires each one of them to be on their A-game and they bring that and more. Their dynamics are all solid and Kranz directs them wonderfully. These are four performances that should stand the test of time.
BEST BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE
The nominees are:
- Alana Haim (Licorice Pizza)
- Emilia Jones (CODA)
- Daniela Melchior (The Suicide Squad)
- Agathe Rousselle (Titane)
- Rachel Zegler (West Side Story)
- Meng’er Zhang (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings)
And the ICON Award goes to…
RACHEL ZEGLER – WEST SIDE STORY
Coming fresh out of obscurity to be the lead in Steven Spielberg’s first musical is an unthinkable task for anyone but, luckily, Rachel Zegler has the acting chops and the voice to do the job as Maria. There’s an inner spark to Zegler’s portrayal of Maria that gives a whole new take, plus her vocal ability is simply outstanding and she stands out among a terrific cast of singers with enough prowess that has already seemed to solidify a prominent career in the industry.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
The nominees are:
- Dune
- Passing
- Spencer
- The Tragedy of Macbeth
- West Side Story
- Zola
And the ICON Award goes to…
THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH
Okay, but how do you look at any image from this film and not think that it’s one of the best-shot films ever made? Delbonnel has done wonders with the imagery in Joel Coen’s Macbeth adaptation. From the black-and-white cinematography to the clever use of framing and visual effects to create such stark and memorable imagery, it’s an absolute pleasure to look at.
BEST SCREENPLAY
The nominees are:
- C’mon C’mon
- Licorice Pizza
- Mass
- The Power of the Dog
- The Worst Person in the World
- Zola
And the ICON Award goes to…
THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD
In a film like this, you have to have a good script. Luckily, this film has a great one. From the plotting, the use of chapters, to the exceptional dialogue, this is absolutely one that stands out from the rest. There are some lines in this film that we’ll be remembering again and again through the years to come.
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE
The nominees are:
- Ariana DeBose (West Side Story)
- Mike Faist (West Side Story)
- Troy Kotsur (CODA)
- Vincent Lindon (Titane)
- Ruth Negga (Passing)
- Park Yoo-Rim (Drive My Car)
And the ICON Award goes to…
MIKE FAIST – WEST SIDE STORY
Mike Faist may not be an Oscar nominee yet, but he is a double ICON-Award winning actor for his defiant, slick turn as Riff. Hearing Steven Spielberg talk about Faist’s process makes you understand where the magic comes from and it’s clear that he understood Riff in a way that nobody else did and brought it out in every moment. From the excellent dancing performances to the Rumble scene…enough said. Faist has created something phenomenal and it’s one of our favourite performances of recent memory.
BEST DIRECTOR
The nominees are:
- Paul Thomas Anderson (Licorice Pizza)
- Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog)
- Julia Ducournau (Titane)
- Joanna Hogg (The Souvenir Part II)
- Denis Villeneuve (Dune)
And the ICON Award goes to…
DENIS VILLENEUVE – DUNE
Denis Villeneuve has done a lot in the last ten years, including making a brave sequel to one of the most revered films ever made, so it stands to reason that he would absolutely nail the ‘impossible adaptation’ that Dune is so commonly referred to as. In only Part 1 of the story, Dune proves that Villeneuve can not only bring in one hell of a creative team but also execute a vision no matter how broad in scope and how bold he wants to make it. And it pays off because Dune is a masterclass in just about every department of filmmaking and the decisions Villeneuve made something extraordinary.
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE
The nominees are:
- Isabelle Fuhrman (The Novice)
- Andrew Garfield (tick, tick…BOOM!)
- Renate Reinsve (The Worst Person in the World)
- Simon Rex (Red Rocket)
- Kristen Stewart (Spencer)
- Tessa Thompson (Passing)
And the ICON Award goes to…
KRISTEN STEWART – SPENCER
It’s no secret that we love Kristen Stewart on this site. We revere Twilight and the other interest career choices she’s made in the moments since. Spencer is a culmination of these choices in a haunting, beautifully personified turn as Diana Spencer. Stewart puts everything into this performance and dominates in a movie full of luscious design elements and musical choices. She is vulnerable yet strong as hell, and her vocal and physical work is absolutely stunning. We’re so proud to be awarding this to her.
FILTY
The nominees are:
- CODA
- C’mon C’mon
- Dune
- Licorice Pizza
- Mass
- The Souvenir: Part II
- Spencer
- Titane
- West Side Story
- The Worst Person in the World
And the FILTY goes to…
THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD
Any of these ten films could’ve taken it, to be honest, but Joachim Trier’s subversive and clever take on a romantic dramedy provides a lot of heart, authenticity and gorgeous performances. Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie, and Herbert Nordrum shine in these beautifully written roles, tackling some fascinating topics and themes in creative ways. The Worst Person in the World feels so lived-in at all times, it’s sometimes startling to realise you’re not watching people you know. It is a staggering accomplishment of a film and one that warrants many, many revisits down the line because it’s impossible to stop thinking about. We’re proud to award it the FILTY.
But…it’s not over yet!
As a new addition to the ceremony this year, we have decided to award one person from this year in film with the ‘ICON of the Year’ award for their trailblazing dedication to their craft and what has come before 2021 in their career. The honour of being the first to gain this award will likely be the highlight of their lives, we’re sure about that.
And…the ICON of the Year goes to…
ANDREW GARFIELD!
With an astonishing four pretty different movies releasing wide in 2021 (Maintream, The Eyes of the Tammy Faye, tick, tick…BOOM! and Spider-Man: No Way Home), Andrew Garfield has dominated the conversation for the last few months, being the absolute highlight of the multiverse in the latest MCU outing, earning his second Oscar nomination for playing the legend Jonathan Larson and debuting his stunning singing voice, and continuing his string of playing truly interesting characters in Mainstream and The Eyes of Tammy Faye. We’re tired just thinking about how busy he was.
Andrew Garfield is an actor who gives his everything to each of his characters and bestows them with so much love and compassion that it’s impossible to look away. Whether he’s showboating and dominating the screen as in Mainstream or putting his heart and soul into a song as in tick, tick…BOOM!, Garfield has the range to achieve anything he wants to. We’re absolutely thrilled to be able to single him out this year to be our first ‘ICON of the Year’.
So that’s the rundown of our winners!
Winning multiple awards were West Side Story with a wonderful 5 awards, The Worst Person in the World and The Mitchells vs the Machines with 2 wins!
Congrats to all the winners! We shall be tweeting a more comprehensive overview of our winners on The Blueprint Twitter account tomorrow, so make sure to follow us there!
We’re really looking forward to the icons that 2022 might bring out to us! We’ve already seen some worthy nominees, so it’ll be exciting to see how that shapes up next year!!
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