Good evening, and welcome to the ICON Awards, back for a fifth year where we continue to make the correct decisions.
As always, the ICONs are an annual celebration of the best things the medium of film had to offer in 2024. There has had to be some streamlining this year, and a note to Jamie to not just give Challengers every award and to make things fair to the other (lesser) films that came out in 2024. It’s been a wild year for film and we’ve truly had everything. From tennis throuples to an absolute array of monkeys, holding space for Defying Gravity, and so much more, we’re here to celebrate all of that because film is truly such a special medium. Where else can you get someone called Monstro Elisasue sprinting through a building getting ready to host a New Year’s Eve celebration?
As Hollywood gears up for its biggest night in film, The Oscars, we’ happily present to you another instalment of the actual best awards show: The ICONs.
BEST ANIMAL
Robbie Williams in Better Man
It was a good year for animals, but an exceptional year for monkeys. While any of 2024’s notable monkey characters could have received this award, it doesn’t feel better suited to anyone more so than the Robbie Williams monkey of Better Man. Ridiculed by everyone but those who have seen its glory; Williams’ agreeing to be depicted as a monkey proved much more than a gimmick, and allowed for an undistracting performance able to portray a life as fantastical as the man himself. Just, himself as a monkey.
MOST ELIGIBLE BOYFRIEND
Andrew Garfield in We Live in Time
Each of our nominees displayed many eligible traits this year, but Andrew Garfield as Tobias is kind of a role that the category was made for. Supporting his wife through a difficult pregnancy, delivery, and then a terminal illness, and also adorably learning the best way to crack an egg, are just some of the things that made Tobias endearing. While Almut was handed the lion’s share of the narrative weight, Garfield’s sensitive, grounded performance provides the perfect audience entryway into the relationship. Andrew Garfield has played a vast array of different characters and Tobias is another excellent addition to his repertoire: he’s beautiful, respectful, great with kids, and just an all-round nice man. We’d date him.
MOST ELIGIBLE GIRLFRIEND
Mikey Madison in Anora
The heartbreaking core of Ani as a character is that she is so ready to love. When the circumstances align, and she believes she has carefully considered them, Ani pours herself into being the perfect partner – this is why the love theme at the core of Anora is strong enough to hold the rest of the wild narrative. Ani is also a self made woman, who’s classy, multi talented, a great conversationalist, and will fight for your relationship through insane odds, even when the recipient of her fighting is long past deserving of them. She’ll fully learn your language, and even cuss out your terrifying Russian billionaire parents with a comeback so blunt, not even they can respond to it, all with a demure smile on her face. Ani is by far the most eligible girlfriend of 2024’s film line up before you even consider the private lap dances you’d get to admire at home.
NOT ELIGIBLE BUT REALLY FUCKING HOT
Dev Patel in Monkey Man
Eligibility is a tricky thing to measure, as evidenced by the yearly fights within the ICON nominating panel in this category. But it’s fairly safe to say that a guy who is determined to exact revenge on someone in general, never mind to this level of devotion, falls under the category – and Dev Patel does it so deliciously. Though some of his actions fall into eligibility, such as him being really, really nice to that lovely dog, we unfortunately cannot condone the sheer frequency and velocity of the violence that pervades Kid’s life. He’s a terrific fighter and really dedicates himself to his cause, which is admirable, but he just wouldn’t really have time for a partner with all the training, and there are only so many first aid kits that one house can contain. But thank you Dev for crafting such a thrilling, beautiful film. Even though you’re not eligible, we highly doubt that we’d turn Kid down if he came knocking. The lift? Say no more.
SCENE STEALER
Jesse Plemons in Civil War
Across the span of his career, it’s not been uncommon for Jesse Plemons to steal any scene he’s part of. But his chilling role in Alex Garland’s not-so distant dystopian American war film just sucks the air out of every room this film is watched in. Plemons uses his natural screen presence to embody a truly terrifying person for merely a few minutes, leaving the audience with pounding hearts and witnessing perhaps a new layer to an already extraordinary actor. The scene in itself is a standout from a writing perspective and is (much like the rest of the film) shot wonderfully, but it’s the chameleonic ability that Jesse Plemons possesses to make you forget that he’s acting that makes the scene really stick in your mind. All this makes it truly shocking that Plemons wasn’t even the original choice for the role, stepping in only days in advance of shooting – that’s a true scene stealer from production right through to the finished film.
BIGGEST SURPRISE
Red One
We truly were expecting nothing when we sat down in the cinema screen for Red One, and instead were treated with a fun and entertaining film that made us believe in Christmas and have confused feelings toward a dilfy polar bear. Red One had full potential to be god-awful; but every actor in it plays it so straight that instead, it evoked a vibe not unlike Michael Caine in A Muppets Christmas Carol. Dare we say a stroke of genius? While we can’t say for certain, we do know that Krampus Slap will be a time honoured Blueprint Christmas game for years to come.
BEST CHEMISTRY
Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande in Wicked
A defining moment in 2024’s pop culture was the press tour for Wicked – between the themed looks served, and the star’s inability to suppress their tears, the world couldn’t avoid holding space for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s relationship. Their bond is tangible on and off screen, solidifying a perfect casting choice from the team. While it’s become memefied that they just sit and cry every time they see each other (valid, we do that too), it only goes to show how connected they feel to each other and their roles in the film. While we could write essays about that incredible press tour, their chemistry is so clear to see on screen that it requires no explanation. Their musical chemistry is out of this world, evidenced by their mutual insistence to sing live on set – a remarkably hard task, but one that only showed their connection more authentically (their harmonising in Defying Gravity…no words). In their acting, it’s no different: the way they show Glinda and Elphaba’s progression from mortal enemies who took each other at face value to ride-or-die best friends is just further proof that they’re perfect for these roles. We’re so thankful to get another chance to see them in the film’s second part this year, as this pairing is truly one of the ages – for good.
BEST KISS
Zendaya & Mike Faist & Josh O’Connor in Challengers
Since the drop of the iconic Rihanna-soundtracked trailer, we all knew what was going to happen. Luca Guadagnino was never going to let those boys out of that hotel room without making out. But nothing, and I do mean nothing, will top the pure adrenaline and elation that we felt during the brilliantly scripted lead-up to this moment. Perhaps the defining scene of the film, and performed perfectly by the three leads, the hotel room kiss is true on-screen kissing at its finest. The awkwardness of teenage horniness is ripe in that room, the pure passion that drives the characters to follow their desires (even ones they didn’t know they had), the anachronistic Blood Orange needle drop, it’s all absolutely perfect. Fuelled by nothing but pure desire and a mischievous, scheming tennis prodigy (love you, Tashi), the whole team came together to create cinematic history. Also an excellent time to be bisexual.
ONE TO WATCH
Anna Kendrick (as Director)
Anyone who is familiar with anything to do with either of us or The Blueprint should know that Anna Kendrick is a staple of our lives. Her graduation monologue in Eclipse has been quoted endlessly in a variety of scenarios, and we just think she’s the absolute coolest. So, to see her making the transition to working behind the camera was always going to be highly anticipated for us, made better only by the fact that she absolutely nailed it. Kendrick’s directorial skill shines through as one of Woman of the Hour’s best aspects, from the clear amount of research that went into it, to the technical elements such as the huge building of tension in key moments of the film. Most crucially though, it’s the integrity of the film that holds it so strongly, with the baseline of empathy so sincere it allows for a refreshing change of pace in the oversaturated true-crime genre. On top of all that, Kendrick also stars in the film, showing a possession of an abundance of talent and a smart knowledge of knowing how to market her work. As a director, Anna Kendrick has proven she has a smart head on capable shoulders – we cannot wait to see what she does next.
BEST USE OF MUSIC
Better Man
Michael Gracey took the music of an icon and utilised every beat of it to propel a concise narrative that evoked visceral emotions following its subject. Robbie Williams is musical royalty for his songs and his personality – and it’s in that same charming audaciousness that Gracey created his biopic. From ‘Rock DJ’s jaw-dropping movie musical sequence on London’s Regent Street that takes us through the years that Take That were suddenly thrust into the limelight, to the magical and intimate rendition of ‘She’s the One’ to chronicle Williams’ relationship with Nicole Appleton, Better Man works so well as an elevated biopic because it seamlessly re-contextualises it’s subject’s music with pure passion, and undeniable entertainment.
BEST COSTUMING
Wicked
One of the most wonderful things about Wicked was the world building in it, which used everything from huge elaborate sets to the tiny stitches of its costumes to fully transport its audience to the lavish world of Oz. Paul Tazewell designed more than a thousand meticulously detailed pieces for the two Wicked films and worked with over seventy craftsmen and artisans to bring them to reality, creating costumes that told us stories about characters and their relationships with each other, teased sneak references, and dazzled us on the big screen. His passion for costuming is as evident as it is that pink goes well with green.
BEST MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING
The Substance & A Different Man
These two brilliant films both display a particularly ingenious make-up design, and we’re therefore awarding a tie. The Substance is a flashy, scathing showcase of beauty standards in a way that shocks and thrills, whereas A Different Man highlights similar themes in a grittier, arguably more dramatic fashion, quite literally given the stage play that unfolds in the latter half of the movie. Both use practical make-up effects to accentuate their themes. From Edward’s peeling face to the climactic ‘storming of the castle’ sequence that introduces us to the iconic, wonderful ‘Monstro Elisasue’, these two beautiful films showcase the highest quality of practical effects to stir emotions within their audiences.
BIGGEST OSCAR SNUB
Challengers for Best Original Score
Oscar-winning composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross quickly earned early Oscar buzz for their pulse-pounding electronica score that accompanies Challengers. While not just notable for the finale number Challengers: Match Point, Reznor and Ross have created a mostly electronic tapestry of desire, athleticism, and rivalry, with a slew of upbeat tracks. Their work won many critics’ prizes and was widely considered to be the most notable score of the year and a frontrunner for the Oscar. Its exclusion from the category altogether saw waves of fury from the devoted fan base, particularly due to the inclusion of less competent movie scores. Safe to say, the Challengers went quadruple platinum in Blueprint HQ and will likely go down as a defining score of the era. Once again, the ICON’s are on the right side of your history. Your serve, Academy…
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST
Anora & Conclave
You couldn’t really ask for two films who are so different from each other tonally if you tried. From a group of headstrong cardinals trying to secure the next Pope, to a sex worker caught up in a whirlwind family feud after marrying the son of a Russian oligarch: while divas to be found everywhere in both films, for sure, the ensembles themselves are complete opposites. Led fiercely by Oscar nominees Ralph Fiennes and Mikey Madison, each film is already off to the races with two strong central performances; but also each fleshed out with incredible work from huge casts of actors that all refuse to waste a second of their role. There’s such a wealth of talent across the board that’s too many to mention here – but we at the Blueprint do want to highlight Carlos Diehz as Cardinal Benitez for being such an integral part of Conclave, but who despite delivering a beautiful performance, was recognised in the film’s SAG Ensemble lineup. While we don’t understand that ruling, we do know that it’s the exact reason we have the ICONs – to celebrate the full casts of winning films.
BEST BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE
Clarence Maclin – Sing Sing
It’s one thing to play yourself in a dramatic feature film. It’s another thing to play opposite a titanic actor like Colman Domingo, and it’s another thing entirely to deliver such a beautifully textured performance in your professional acting debut. All while co-writing the Oscar-nominated script! This true feat of brilliance makes Maclin deserving of all of the praise and love he has received off the back of this role portraying his real life story in a way that delivers it to the audience while also feeling like a performance. It’s not overdramatised or overacted, it’s a perfectly balanced self-portrayal that threads each needle exquisitely. While it would have been incredible if that had translated to an Oscar nomination, the ICONs have got your back, Clarence. Hearing that he’s been cast in his first leading role in Ray Panthaki’s directorial debut is such great news, too, and we’re glad that his stellar work in Sing Sing is leading to more opportunities!
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Challengers
Who could have possibly predicted a ‘POV: you’re the tennis ball’ shot, and who could have pulled it off so well other than Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, one of the finest cinematographers working today. Spurred on by the sensual genius of Luca Guadagnino and some extremely attractive actors to photograph, the cinematography of Challengers truly has it all. A steamy hotel room kiss, a slo-mo storm hookup, and plenty of dynamic, pulsing tennis matches that the premise promises. And that’s not even to mention the under-floor shots near the end, the sweaty close-ups, and that one shot of Mike Faist leaning back in his chair holding the tennis racket when he’s all sweaty and–
Anyway, professionalism! Nah, screw it, they were hot and Mukdeeprom absolutely knew it and took advantage (get it?) of it.
BEST SCREENPLAY
A Real Pain
Jesse Eisenberg’s been an acclaimed writer for a while, with a handful of theatre plays under his belt. But after his feature directorial debut When You Finish Saving the World whistled by without much of an impact, it was only a matter of time before he came back to the big screen in a big way. A Real Pain has some of the most layered writing that we’ve seen in recent years, conversations that tackle big themes in light-hearted ways, characters who feel so fully fleshed out and real that it’s hard to believe that they’re only amalgamations of Eisenberg’s personal experiences and not just exactly the way they are on the page. Bolstered by a fantastic cast, the characters and dialogue are propelled off the page by Eisenberg’s direction, but the simultaneously witty and heartbreaking script remains a highlight of the movie.
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE
Ariana Grande – Wicked
Ariana Grande has truly had one of the most notable career trajectories of any ‘main pop girly’ to date. Starting out as a children’s television actress after a stint on Broadway, gaining attention for her one in a million voice, which propelled her into mega-success in her recording career. While a lot of attention has always traditionally been paid to her personal life, it was almost easy to forget just how much talent this woman possesses – but Wicked changed that indubitably. After doing everything she possibly could, including five auditions, to land the role of a lifetime, Ariana Grande proved to herself and the rest of the world that she could do it. And boy did she! Grande creates a Glinda that is so singular, not just a rehashing of Kristin Chenoweth’s original version. She’s playful and witty and spoiled, but possesses a tremendous amount of heart. Even just in the first half of the narrative that has taken place in Wicked: Part One, she shows her true carousel of skills that she has ready to use, not even just limited (get it?) to her show stopping vocal performance (we cried the second we heard her voice). Ariana Grande perhaps hasn’t chosen the greatest projects to showcase her acting ability to mainstream audiences, but she absolutely has now and anyone seeing Wicked and doubting that she’s the real deal in every aspect of the industry…watch Wicked again and really try and hold space for what she’s doing.
BEST DIRECTOR
Coralie Fargeat – The Substance
With her sophomore film, Coralie Fargeat takes a clearly defined concept and purpose and executes it in the most brazen and overtly playful of attitudes. Every element of the film is pushed as far as it can go, perhaps past its natural limits in the third act, but nothing ever feels out of control. Fargeat exercises complete mastery over the craft in a way that is frightening for somebody’s second feature film. Most directors take years to find their style and perfect it, but Fargeat has stormed out of the gates and created an indelible masterwork that stirred a lot of conversation as any good horror film does. Its fairytale-gone-wrong narrative and propulsive, stylish direction has earned the film a spot in the modern horror canon, and surely a lasting one in decades to come as a fresh, exciting entry into the genre. All eyes will be on Fargeat to see what nightmarish fable she crafts next, and we for two are excited to find out what bloodbath awaits us.
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE
Fernanda Torres – I’m Still Here
If Torres’ work in Walter Salles’ factually-based film can be summarised in one word, it would be ‘transformative’. It’s arguably the single most lived-in performance of recent history – every look she gives tells a full life story as the context behind the gaze. Her chemistry with the actors who played her family is incredibly realistic and only goes to show just how much this performance is underneath her skin and it feels like just another part of her. Torres undertakes a real responsibility for not only the real woman she plays, but the nation of people that she represented during Brazil’s military dictatorship; and used it as fuel to shape a woman who is genteel and loving, but also passionate, furious and resilient – a fully fledged, living woman who contains all emotions and responsibilities. Truly remarkable work.
POTY
Challengers
It’s been no secret that Challengers has dominated Blueprint HQ since its announcement (the tragedy of its six-month delay sent ripples across the space-time continuum) and its eventual release, press-tour and aftermath have only served to etch it in our minds and that of modern film. If you’d have told us years ago that Luca Guadagnino was going to make a tennis movie, we probably wouldn’t have believed you, but his absolute mastery as a director is on full display here as he navigates teenage hormones, adultery, competitiveness, and bisexuality all while crafting a genuinely exciting, engaging sports movie. Any further thoughts can be found in our review of Challengers, but as we approach the one-year anniversary of the film’s release, it’s still pretty fresh on the brain, which is telling enough of its cinematic longevity.
Jamie doesn’t just see any film eleven times in the cinema, so that’s a clear sign that this one is special.
It was a fantastic year for film in 2024 and there was a lot of films to be highlighted and showcased across these categories. But Challengers happened to be the one where Mike Faist, Zendaya, and Josh O’Connor all made out on a bed. If any other films in the future want to do that, be our guest and we’ll honour you with our most prestigious award. Since the Academy couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge cinematic greatness, we’ll do the heavy lifting.
Congratulations to Challengers, a worthy winner of this year’s POTY.
We still have one final award to dish out, our hotly anticipated career achievement award: ICON of the Year. Past winners have included 2024 ICON winner Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri (who are coincidentally starring together in Luca Guadangino’s next film After the Hunt, this year, so be sure to see that), and Florence Pugh, another Andrew Garfield co-star. So what we’re saying is, get in a film with Andrew Garfield and you’re probably good to go.
Without further ado, the ICON of the Year is…
ICON OF THE YEAR
Sebastian Stan
Sebastian Stan has had a stellar year that has defined a storied career of over two decades in the industry. From his start as teen heartthrob roles in The Covenant and Gossip Girl to his multi-film stint as Bucky Barnes in the MCU, Sebastian Stan has found the space to play do just about everyone: spoiled rich kids, twisted bad guys, heartthrobs, depressed gays (many, many times) and multiple real-life individuals. This year, he played Edward in A Different Man, an aspiring actor with a facial disfigurement whose life takes a tumultuous turn once he undergoes a procedure to change his face, yet still can’t escape his insecurities. Stan poured his everything into his role and it’s so apparent on the screen. There isn’t an easy tone to find in A Different Man, and there’s an intimidating mix of comedy, drama, and tragedy that Stan handles with aplomb. As well as doing career-best work there, he also took on the thankless task of playing Donald Trump in The Apprentice. A film and performance that the man himself has openly attacked (a sign that you know it’s probably good), Stan totally escapes into the role, not just taking the easy route and vilifying Trump, though nor does he attempt to find the humanity within the role. He tackles the complexities of playing a real figure without resorting to a cheap impersonation. He also used his position in the promotion of The Apprentice to gracefully urge America to truly consider who they were voting for. And while it didn’t quite go to plan, the effort has to be rewarded.
To be an already acclaimed actor but then be in the position of having your two career-defining performances released within a month of each other is truly an achievement to celebrate. Sebastian Stan has been turning up for the last two decades and we’re so incredibly happy that he is finally being seen for the versatile, risk-taking actor that we have known him to be.
This past year has been prolific for film, and we’ve thrilled to have celebrated it in our fifth prestigious year.
Congratulations to all the people and films that have received ICONs tonight – we’ll see you next year!
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