As the year winds its way down again it is once again time for the least important awards in film, The Shuggies. It is the 4th annual Shuggie Awards when the films released in the UK in 2019 compete for the honour of winning a non existent trophy. The full list of the eligible films can be found here (up until Thunder Road). And here are this year’s winners.

Best Animated Film:

  • Toy Story 4: There were a few great animated films this year, with Klaus making a late appearance on the nominees. But in the end it had to be Toy Story 4, a beautiful and touching end to Woody’s story, even when there was so much scepticism about a fourth film.
  • Frozen II
  • How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
  • Klaus
  • Missing Link

Best Foreign Language Film:

  • Portrait of a Lady on Fire – Up against some incredible competition from other films not in the English language this year Portrait of a Lady on Fire takes this one. A beautiful LGBT+ story, that was stunning crafted in every way.
  • Burning
  • The Farewell
  • Monos
  • Pain and Glory

Best Actor:

  • Adam Driver – Marriage Story: Adam Driver’s performance in Marriage Story was something special. He plays it incredibly understated for almost the entire film, meaning that when he does explode it feel so much more powerful.
  • Christian Bale – Le Mans ‘66
  • Robert Pattinson – The Lighthouse
  • Joe Pesci – The Irishman
  • Joaquin Phoenix – Joker

Best Actress:

  • Adèle Haenel – Portrait of a Lady on Fire: Whilst Noémie Merlant is considered the lead actress of Portrait it is the performance of Adèle Haenel as Héloïse that steals the film. Throughout she is incredible, but her performance in the final scene alone gives her the edge.
  • Awkwafina – The Farewell
  • Jessie Buckley – Wild Rose
  • Scarlett Johansson – Marriage Story
  • Lupita Nyong’o – Us

Best Screenplay:

  • Rian Johnson – Knives Out: Rian Johnson’s screenplay for Knives Out is so tightly scripted that everything that happens is so important in small ways. It’s definitely a film you’ll need to watch a second time to really see the genius of Johnson’s work.
  • Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel, and Katie Silberman – Booksmart
  • Robert Eggers and Max Eggers – The Lighthouse
  • Noah Baumbach – Marriage Story
  • Céline Sciamma – Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Best Director:

  • Robert Eggers – The Lighthouse: Robert Eggers took so many risks in making The Lighthouse and every one of them paid off. A black and white abstract psychological horror full of nautical inspired language doesn’t sound like it should be brilliant, but it’s absolutely incredible.
  • Olivia Wilde – Booksmart
  • Noah Baumbach – Marriage Story
  • Quentin Tarantino – Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
  • Céline Sciamma – Portrait of a Lady On Fire

Best Film:

  • Marriage Story: For Best Picture this year I’ve gone for Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story. A film that focuses on divorce could end up being either very boring or far too heavy to enjoy. But Baumbach keeps you engaged throughout, makes you care about these characters, and balances the emotional side with some levity. It all comes together into a brilliant masterpiece of a film.
  • Booksmart
  • Knives Out
  • The Lighthouse
  • Portrait of a Lady On Fire