The 1st Annual Todd Awards - Winners

The 1st Annual Todd Awards

-Winners-

The time is here. I have decided to post the winners of The Todd Awards on the eve of the Oscars so that the Oscar winners will not affect my own personal choices for the categories that are similar. Please do not confuse this list with my own Oscar predictions for the two are very different. These are my own awards. Not everyone will agree with my choices, because we all have our own preferences and these are just mine. Hopefully, there will be some that you support or can, at least, appreciate. Without further ado, here are the winners:



BEST PICTURE - DRAMA

Argo
The Dark Knight Rises
The Hunger Games
Lincoln
Zero Dark Thirty

WINNER:

Zero Dark Thirty

The more I thought about this movie, the more I admired it. It's hard to label a movie as flawless because none are, but this is probably as close as you'll get. It's relevant and perfectly executed. Great acting all around and Kathryn Bigelow's direction is top-notch! Just an excellent film on all fronts.


BEST PICTURE - MUSICAL OR COMEDY

21 Jump Street
Brave
Les Miserables
Moonrise Kingdom
Silver Linings Playbook

WINNER:

Les Miserables

This musical adaptation has caused its share of controversy with its casting, live singing, and cinematography, but in my opinion, it is the great films that cause controversy because they are daring. It's hard to imagine a musical would be daring, but director Tom Hooper proved the contrary. Though the songs may not be performed in the beautiful way the stage has made us accustomed to, they have never been performed with the emotional level that this film has established. The movie took a musical we all thought we knew so well and showed us a wholly different way to experience it. For that, I applaud it. I have always been moved whenever I saw Les Mis on stage, but the movie was the first time I ever cried while seeing this story. To me that says a lot.

BEST ACTOR - DRAMA

Ben Affleck - Argo
Daniel Day-Lewis - Lincoln
Liam Neeson - The Grey
Joaquin Phoenix - The Master
Denzel Washington - Flight

WINNER:

Daniel Day-Lewis - Lincoln

He is, undeniably, one of the greatest actors to ever grace the screen. He disappears into every role he is given making him unrecognizable in nearly every movie he's in. I feel bad for any other actor who will portray Lincoln in the future.

BEST ACTRESS - DRAMA

Amy Adams - The Master
Emily Blunt - Looper
Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty
Jennifer Lawrence - The Hunger Games
Naomi Watts - The Impossible

WINNER:

Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty

There are still many movie goers who are not yet familiar with Jessica Chastain, but you should be. She had a big year in 2011 with The Help and Tree of Life (two Oscar Best Picture nominees), but this is the role that is going to make her a bonafide star. She is perfect in Zero Dark Thirty. I look forward to her future roles.

BEST ACTOR - MUSICAL OR COMEDY

Bradley Cooper - Silver Linings Playbook
Jonah Hill - 21 Jump Street
Hugh Jackman - Les Miserables
Chris Pine - This Means War
Channing Tatum - 21 Jump Street

WINNER:

Hugh Jackman - Les Miserables

This was the role Hugh Jackman had been waiting for his entire career. His interpretation of Valjean's "Soliloquy" is so moving and emotional. That scene was some of the best acting I have ever seen. Absolutely brilliant. The character of Valjean requires a man who is incredibly strong and can be intimadating, but also kind, caring, and merciful. Is that not Hugh Jackman?

BEST ACTRESS - MUSICAL OR COMEDY

Elizabeth Banks - What to Expect When You're Expecting
Emily Blunt - The Five Year Engagement
Julianne Hough - Rock of Ages
Anna Kendrick - Pitch Perfect
Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook

WINNER:

Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook

What a breath of fresh air. Jennifer does a fine job balancing between quirky/crazy and touching/caring. She owns the screen especially in a pivotal scene with Robert DeNiro - not an easy task. Jennifer is gonna be around long after The Hunger Games have ended.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Jason Clarke - Zero Dark Thirty
Leonardo DiCaprio - Django Unchained
Tom Hardy - The Dark Knight Rises
Eddie Redmayne - Les Miserables
Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained

WINNER:

Tom Hardy - The Dark Knight Rises

Ok, ok I will be the first to admit this is pure indulgence. All the nominees are deserving of the award, but I just love what Tom Hardy did with Bane. I loved his voice, his countenance in every scene, and how he is able to express himself solely through his eyes. Only a great actor could make a character like Bane so riveting. I was amazed how Hardy was able to make the audience feel some compassion for his character at the end again using nothing but his eyes. I can watch his performance over and over again, and never tire of it.


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Samantha Barks - Les Miserables
Sally Field - Lincoln
Anne Hathaway - The Dark Knight Rises
Anne Hathaway - Les Miserables
Charlize Theron - Snow White and the Huntsman

WINNER:

Anne Hathaway - Les Miserables

Hathaway gave everything she had to this role, including 20 or so pounds and her own hair. Her performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" is so original and heartbreaking. Listening and watching her performance made me listen to the lyrics seemingly for the first time. Every lyric was sung with pure conviction. So moving.

BEST DIRECTOR

Ben Affleck - Argo
Kathryn Bigelow - Zero Dark Thirty
Tom Hooper - Les Miserables
Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight Rises
David O. Russell - Silver Linings Playbook

WINNER:

Kathryn Bigelow - Zero Dark Thirty

This award could go to either Bigelow or Ben Affleck. Both are more than deserving. I chose Kathryn because her film stayed with me longer than Argo did. She brought out amazing performances from her cast, particularly Jessica Chastain and Jason Clarke. The mounting tension throughout the film is no doubt because of Bigelow's direction. Bravo.


BEST SCREENPLAY

Mark Boal - Zero Dark Thirty
Rian Johnson - Looper
David O. Russell - Silver Linings Playbook
Quentin Tarantino - Django Unchained
Chris Terrio - Argo

WINNER:

Rian Johnson - Looper

I think there is better dialogue in Silver Linings Playbook and Django Unchained, but Looper is completely original and the screenplay is written expertly by writer/director Rian Johnson. This movie could have been a disaster with its complex plot, but thanks to the well written script it was executed very well.


BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Danny Cohen - Les Miserables
Greig Fraser - Zero Dark Thirty
Wally Pfister - The Dark Knight Rises
Rodrigo Prieto - Argo
Dariusz Wolski - Prometheus

WINNER:

Dariusz Wolski - Prometheus

Ridley Scott always has beautifully filmed movies, and Prometheus may be the best when it comes to its photography by Wolski. There are many breathtaking scenes. Despite its overly complex plot the film couldn't be any better to look at.


BEST EDITING

Christopher S. Capp, Stephen Mirrione, & Juliette Welfling - The Hunger Games
Chris Dickens & Melanie Oliver - Les Miserables
William Goldenberg - Argo
William Goldenberg & Dylan Tichenor - Zero Dark Thirty
Lee Smith - The Dark Knight Rises

WINNER:

William Goldenberg & Dylan Tichenor - Zero Dark Thirty

Another near flawless aspect of this great film. All departments came through on this movie and the editing is very effective.

BEST VISUAL/SPECIAL EFFECTS

The Avengers
The Dark Knight Rises
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Prometheus
Snow White and the Huntsman

WINNER:

Snow White and the Huntsman

The visual effects in the movie are top notch. From the dark forest to the land of the pixies everything is a wonder to behold. These effects remind us why today's technology is the perfect time for fantasy or science fiction films.


BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

James Newton Howard - Snow White and the Huntsman
Howard Shore - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Marc Streitenfeld - The Grey
John Williams - Lincoln
Hans Zimmer - The Dark Knight Rises

WINNER:

James Newton Howard - Snow White and the Huntsman

I love a good film score. Hans Zimmer is my favorite film composer, but I must tip my hat to James Newton Howard. His score for Snow White was brillaint from its opening number through the battle sequences up till the triumphant themes. Also, Florence + the Machine's "Breath of Life" is a great song - one of the best movie songs I've heard in a long time.