It’s that time of the year again! I’m finally ready to reveal the winners of the thirty categories. This is the 4th IJR Awards, but also the biggest yet. To see the nominees for the following thirty awards, go here and here.
- Song of the Year
- Best Performance by a Voice Actor in a Gaming Experience
- Game of the Year
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Superhero Film or Television Show
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Superhero Film or Television Show
- Superhero Film of the Year
- Unforgettable Television Quote of the Year
- Best Guest Performance by an Actor in a Television Show
- Best Performance by a Cast in a Television Show
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Show
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Show
- Television Episode of the Year
- Television Show of the Year
- Television Legend – Lifetime Achievement
- Unforgettable Movie Quote of the Year
- Best Movie Trailer
- Best Movie Poster
- Best Achievement in Visual Effects in a Film
- Best Film Score
- Best Documentary
- Best Sequel, Prequel, or Remake
- Best Performance by a Cast in a Film
- Best Performance by a Rising Star: Acting
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Film
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Film
- Best Performance by a Rising Star: Filmmaking
- Best Performance in Writing a Film
- Best Performance in Directing a Film
- Best Film
- Film Legend – Lifetime Achievement
Please note: Moonlight wasn’t eligible for any awards as I hadn’t seen it prior to announcing the nominated films.
Song of the Year
- “Drive It Like You Stole It” – Performed by Sing Street, from the movie ‘Sing Street.’
I’ll be honest and admit that had I seen La La Land before announcing the nominees for Best Song, then La La Land would probably fill three spots out of the five, and there’s a good chance Another Day of Sun would’ve won here. Don’t worry, though, La La Land will show up later on the list.
Now, Sing Street didn’t get the awards love it deserved in 2016, so I’m happy to show it some here. Drive It Like You Stole It should’ve been the hit of the summer, but Can’t Stop the Feeling was in its way. If you haven’t seen Sing Street yet, then please check it out.
Best Performance by a Voice Actor in a Gaming Experience
- Nolan North – Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End.
Nolan North is a video game voice acting legend, and 2016 gave him the finale to one of the most beloved franchises he’s ever been a part of. Nolan North is Nathan Drake.
Game of the Year
- Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End – Naughty Dog.
The Uncharted game series is one of my favorite video game series of all-time. I had really high hopes for the fourth and, supposedly, final game in the series and it, honestly, blew me away. While I had thought Uncharted 2 was the best in the series prior to A Thief’s End‘s release, Uncharted 4 has become my favorite game in the video game series.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Superhero Film or Television Show
- Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool.
This was easy for me. This is a role Ryan Reynolds was born to play and he played it to perfection here. The Deadpool we deserve.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Superhero Film or Television Show
- Tilda Swinton – Doctor Strange.
Say what you will about her character or her casting, but you cannot deny that Tilda Swinton was fantastic in Doctor Strange.
Superhero Film of the Year
- Captain America: Civil War – Walt Disney Studios.
This was really between Deadpool and Captain America: Civil War, and, in the end, it had to go to the one movie that succeeded in pitting two heroes against each other, while not destroying either character. I was on Stark’s side, but I think the majority of people were with Rogers. This is a fantastic ‘hero versus hero’ film, it includes so many great heroes, and it premiered the new Spider-Man. The greatest superhero film of 2016.
Unforgettable Television Quote of the Year
- “Hold the Door!” – Game of Thrones: The Door.
I know that the Red Wedding is probably the most shocking moment of violence and heartbreak in television history, but this may be the saddest moment in Game of Thrones.
Best Guest Performance by an Actor in a Television Show
- Jeffrey Dean Morgan – The Walking Dead: Season Six.
Although the final episode of the sixth season of The Walking Dead ended on an unfair cliffhanger, it did also introduce us properly to Negan, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan is a great Negan.
Best Performance by a Cast in a Television Show
- Westworld: Season One – Ben Barnes; Oliver Bell; Ingrid Bolsø Berdal; Clifton Collins, Jr.; Ed Harris; Luke Hemsworth; Louis Herthum; Anthony Hopkins; Sidse Babett Knudsen; James Marsden; Leonardo Nam; Thandie Newton; Steven Ogg; Simon Quarterman; Talulah Riley; Rodrigo Santoro; Angela Sarafyan; Jimmi Simpson; Ptolemy Slocum; Bradford Tatum; Tessa Thompson; Evan Rachel Wood; Shannon Woodward; Jeffrey Wright.
Westworld‘s first season was terrific, and one of the reasons why was the performances. Thandie Newton, Jimmi Simpson, Ed Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Anthony Hopkins, and Evan Rachel Wood were the standouts, but Marsden, Knudsen, and Thompson also added to the excellence of the show.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Show
- John Turturro – The Night Of.
The Night Of came out of nowhere. It wasn’t really on my radar, but it really worked for me. I got interested in it when I saw that Riz Ahmed was in it, but Turturro was probably the best thing about the show.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Show
- Rhea Seehorn – Better Call Saul: Season Two.
Rhea Seehorn as Kim Wexler is the unsung hero of Better Call Saul. Every year I see that Odenkirk, Banks, or McKean are nominated in the major award shows, but Seehorn doesn’t get the credit she deserves. Her performance was my favorite thing about Better Call Saul: Season Two.
Television Episode of the Year
- “Fish Out of Water” – BoJack Horseman: Season Three
This was the episode that convinced me of the show’s brilliance, and it was also the episode that made me recognize BoJack Horseman as my favorite animated show since Futurama.
Television Show of the Year
- BoJack Horseman: Season Three – Netflix
From my Top Ten TV-Shows of 2016 list:
I love BoJack Horseman, and yet it’s a show that keeps on surprising me. I think I tend to forget that it isn’t just another animated show for adults. BoJack Horseman is a very dark and harsh look at the rise and fall of a celebrity, and this last season was definitely the best yet. If you never checked out BoJack Horseman, or if you only saw the first season and then dropped it from your TV watchlist, then please consider taking another look at it. It hasn’t just gotten better, it has become a great, must-watch television show.
Television Legend – Lifetime Achievement
- Bryan Cranston – Actor, Producer, Director, Writer.
The first honorary Television Legend award goes to an actor that has given one of the best performances ever seen on television, but he is so much more than just that performance. For millions, he was first the dentist on Seinfeld or the father in Malcolm in the Middle or, to another group, he was first Ted’s annoying boss in How I Met Your Mother before you started bingewatching Breaking Bad. He has also become a somewhat seasoned television director and he is now the first IJR Television Legend.
Unforgettable Movie Quote of the Year
- “Would that it were so simple.”– Hail, Caesar!
Hail, Caesar! isn’t a particularly memorable film, to be honest with you. I only really remember three or four moments from the film, and this is one of those. I will say, however, that you should watch the film just for this scene. It’s hilarious.
Best Movie Trailer
- 10 Cloverfield Lane – Announcement Trailer
10 Cloverfield Lane was such a wonderful surprise, when this trailer was released. This was such a well-made trailer that I couldn’t think of any other new release before I had seen 10 Cloverfield Lane (and, yes, I also loved the film).
Best Movie Poster
- O. J.: Made in America – American glove.
This poster doesn’t just look great, it also perfectly encapsulates the scope of the film.
Best Achievement in Visual Effects in a Film
- The Jungle Book, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
The Jungle Book really blew me away, and for a while it was my favorite film of the year (and I didn’t think any film would be better than it was, until many were). The only film that ever came close to challenging this one for the ‘award’ was Doctor Strange.
Best Film Score
- La La Land, Justin Hurwitz
This was always between the Arrival score, which I adore, and the wonderful La La Land score. Ultimately, La La Land got this win as none of the brilliant songs ended up being nominated for Best Song because of that award’s nomination deadline.
Best Documentary
- O. J.: Made in America, ESPN Films
From my review:
O. J.: Made in America is a modern documentary masterpiece that details the peak of the infotainment era, the rise of a role model, the loss of racial identity, and a star’s tragic and sinful fall from grace. It is one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen.
Best Sequel, Prequel, or Remake
- Captain America: Civil War, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
From my review, on the airport-sequence:
It is the single-most impressive sequence I’ve ever seen in a superhero film, it is one of the best action sequences I’ve seen in years (maybe ever), and it is every superhero-fan’s dream. Every single character gets a moment or two to shine, and then some of them team-up for awesome stunts and such. It is a breathtaking sequence, which was shot completely in IMAX. You’re going to love it.
Best Performance by a Cast in a Film
- Manchester by the Sea – Casey Affleck, Kyle Chandler, Lucas Hedges, Gretchen Mol, Matthew Broderick, Michelle Williams, C. J. Wilson.
Everybody talks about Casey Affleck, Lucas Hedges, and Michelle Williams (and for good reason), but I’m surprised very few people are talking about Kyle Chandler, who does a lot with a character that is only ever shown in flashbacks.
Best Performance by a Rising Star: Acting
- Anya Taylor-Joy – The Witch
Taylor-Joy gives a supremely confident and captivating performance in The Witch. I was so happy to see her in Split in early 2017, and I’m excited to see what she does next in her career.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Film
- Casey Affleck – Manchester by the Sea
Every thing that’s been said about this performance is true. It is understated. It is terrific. It is Affleck’s shining moment. I’ll add to that and say it’s one of the best acting performances by a male performer this decade.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Film
- Amy Adams – Arrival
I was, honestly, shocked when Amy Adams wasn’t nominated for an Oscar for this performance. I still can’t believe it.
Best Performance by a Rising Star: Filmmaking
- Robert Eggers – Director/Writer – The Witch
I’m not a huge fan of the horror genre, but The Witch was pretty perfect for me. The atmosphere, the central performance – everything just feels so real and yet so scary.
Best Performance in Writing a Film
- Kenneth Lonergan – Manchester by the Sea
Everything about Manchester by the Sea just feels so real, which is why it is so effective. The dialogue is especially impressive and lifelike. The characters are terrific and the performances even better. I also really like the film’s structure.
Best Performance in Directing a Film
- Damien Chazelle – La La Land
I am in awe of Damien Chazelle. He is one of the finest new directors in Hollywood. I’m not sure whether I like Whiplash or La La Land more yet (I need to rewatch La La Land at some point), but to have made those two movies back-to-back is amazing.
Best Film
- La La Land, Summit Entertainment
From my La La Land review:
With a charismatic and charming cast, a brilliant director, and a genre that people are sometimes turned off by, La La Land is here at the right time to breathe new life into our love of movies.
Film Legend – Lifetime Achievement
- Thelma Schoonmaker – Film Editor.
Thelma Schoonmaker is, quite simply, one of the greatest film editors of all-time. I think the role of a film editor is one of the most thankless major positions in filmmaking. Although the way the film is edited should be fairly easy to spot, cinematographers get more recognition than editors, sadly. Schoonmaker has edited some of the greatest – and some of my favorite – films of all-time, and for that she gets to be the first IJR Film Legend.
Those are the winners of the 4th I’m Jeffrey Rex Awards! I saw so many films and so many shows in 2016, and it is really exciting to start to close the 2016 chapter like this. I look forward to recognizing the best films, shows, and games of 2017 in a year.
Until then, watch more movies!
– Jeffrey Rex
I'm Jeffrey Rex 