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So as you know, I stopped writing lengthy reviews on this site this year, keeping the blog as more of a film diary of sorts.  Lo and behold,...

Thursday, September 11, 2014

The 2013 RyMickey Awards - Best Younger Actor/Actress

For the purposes of this category, nominees must be 21 years of age or younger at the time of the film's release.  Placing in this category does not preclude placement in other categories.

What's fantastic to note here is that EVERY SINGLE ONE of these fantastic performances is available to watch streaming on Netflix.  Put them in your queue to watch some great acting from an upcoming generation of talented younger actors and actresses!

Best Younger Actor/Actress of 2013

Honorable Mentions
Tye Sheridan and Jacob Lofland - Mud

And the Top Five Are...

#5 - Onata Aprile - What Maisie Knew
While Aprile is never given a "stand out" moment per se, the whole film is told from her perspective and her wide eyes and ability to convey so much with silence places her on this list.

#4 - Kaitlyn Dever - Short Term 12
Also appearing in this year's fantastic The Spectacular Now, Ms. Dever was best known prior to this for appearing in the sitcom Last Man Standing.  However, with this role she proves she's got dramatic chops showcasing that beyond the bombastic personality she outwardly projects, her character is really just a young, innocent girl trying to cope with her parents' inability to love her.

#3 - Annika Wedderkopp - The Hunt
There's a palpable sense of guilt that permeates throughout the debut performance of the very young Wedderkopp.  She plays the subtle nuances of a young child who knows what she's doing is wrong, but can't figure out how to make it right.  Fantastically in depth for such a young actress.

#2 - Keith Stanfield - Short Term 12 
I will admit I'm cheating a little bit here with Mr. Stanfield.  This film screened for many months at festivals and at that time, Stanfield was 21, but upon the film's limited release he eked over to 22.  Still, I'm placing him here because of his fantastic performance.  His character of Marcus is quiet and subdued mainly because his sense of worth has been deflated exponentially.  Stanfield so easily could've taken this character to two extremes -- angry or sympathetic -- but he finds a happy medium. His rap scene is one of the best (and most heart-wrenching) moments of cinema this year.

#1 - Adele Exarchopoulos - Blue Is the Warmest Color
In every scene, Ms. Exarchopolous brings an uncomfortable naivety to her character's newfound attraction to another female that is fascinating to watch, beautifully capturing her gradual thirst for this new life experience.  There's a vulnerability here that we don't often see and her performance is incredibly brave.

Previous RyMickey Award Winners

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