The 2016 RyMickey Awards - Best Younger Actor/Actress

2016 Best Younger Actor/Actress

(SoN = Streaming on Netflix // SoA = Streaming on Amazon // SoH = Streaming on HBO)

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

As you'll notice in this abbreviated edition of the RyMickey Awards, I've found that my nearly two-year delay in viewing certain films has admittedly hampered my ability to adequately "order" certain categories.  Because of this, a few of the categories may feature simply lists of great performances as opposed to a fully ordered five or ten-long numerical "best" list as I've done in the past.  Don't dismiss this as me being any less enthusiastic about the performances, it's simply an unfortunate change due to the delay in the awards this year.

Honorable Mentions

Florence Clery - The Light Between Oceans

Lucas Hedges- Manchester by the Sea

Royalty Hightower - The Fits

Jaeden Lieberer - Midnight Special

Madina Nalwanga - Queen of Katwe

Neel Sethi - The Jungle Book

And the Top Four...

#4 - Ferdia Walsh-Peelo - Sing Street 

A joyful exuberance exudes from the young Walsh-Peelo as he embraces his character's newfound singing "talent" in Sing Street.  He brings a humor to the role that the kitschy 1980s aesthetic of the flick needs.  (SoN)

#3 - Hailee Steinfeld - The Edge of Seventeen

Hailee Steinfeld has already won this award before and this will be her last appearance on this particular list as she's reached the age cut-off.  However, here she is for one last hurrah.  Ms. Steinfeld nicely epitomizes the highs and lows of teenage living, aided by a screenplay that gives her opportunity to be both funny and heartfelt.

#2 - Sunny Pawar - Lion

In his first role, young Sunny Pawar carries the entire first half of Lion on his shoulders as Saroo.  Despite his poverty-stricken homelife in India, Saroo's initial wide-eyed innocence shifts to vividly emoted fear when he is essentially left orphaned and abandoned on the hectic, scary streets of India.  Pawar is essentially on his own for much of the film's first act and he's absolutely captivating. (SoN)

#1 - Charlie Plummer - King Jack

Thanks to a riveting performance by the young Charlie Plummer, the low budget indie King Jack is elevated to something better than the sum of its parts.  Jack's hardened exterior crafted by months of being bullied masks a melancholic nature that is palpably felt by the viewers thanks to Plummer's facial expressions and dialog.  Plummer has picked up some roles in some high profile movies since his appearance in King Jack, but this is my first time seeing his acting chops and I look forward to perusing his filmography in the future. (SoN)

Previous RyMickey Award Winners
2015 -- 2014 -- 2013 -- 2012
2011 -- 2010 -- 2009