Welcome to the 2022 SiftPop.com Sifties!
This year, the SiftPop writers came together to nominate five vocal performances for Best Voice Performance. This is a category that is woefully underrepresented at awards shows, so we sought to remedy that!
2022 was a year of great vocal performances. From another great Pixar entry, to an impressive stop-motion film, to a talking seashell, and a reboot of a classic franchise, there was a wide variety to appreciate. The SiftPop crew nominated five performers for Best Voice Performance: David Bradley and Ewan McGregor in Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, John Mulaney in Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers, Jenny Slate in Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, and Rosalie Chiang in Turning Red. Here’s how the voting played out:
It’s not easy to deliver a solid voice performance. Having the audience to relate to your character without utilizing your body is a challenge. But David Bradley’s performance as Geppetto is gut-wrenching. It’s the way he composes himself, and lets himself break down. The way in which his voice trembles, of his line deliveries spike with energy, throughout the film that flesh out his character, making him a truly sympathetic figure. Whether it’s struggles with grief, shock at being a father, anger towards disobedience, fear of fascism, or the unbridled joy of holding your child in your arms, everything that Bradley does in this film is tremendous.
John Mulaney has one of the most distinctive voices in Hollywood, and as he’s also one of the funniest figures in Tinseltown, it’s almost a shame he isn’t cast in more projects. Spider-Hamis probably the funniest part of Into the Spider-Verse, his character of Andrew on Big Mouth is always hilarious, and Jack Horner in the new Puss in Boots movie is one of the best animated villains in a long time. In Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers, Mulaney not only brings comedy to the character of Chip, but heart and emotion as well. In the neverending sea of reboots and sometimes phoned-in performances in said reboots, Mulaney is a clear standout.
Ewan McGregor is one of the most precious commodities we have in Hollywood, and his showing as Sebastian J. Cricket in Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio proves that once again. He is essentially playing two roles in this film. First, as the narrator and conscience of Pinocchio, who seamlessly navigates us from scene to scene with a smarmy attitude and a large heft of entertainment. Additionally, he is our lovable cricket, who is delivering hilarious line readings full of dry humor and wit, while also giving us a solid singing performance in “Better Tomorrows.” It’s hard to not be impressed by McGregor when watching this flick.
It’s always fun when new talent bursts onto the scene, and Rosalie Chiang’s turn as Meilin ‘Mei’ Lee in Turning Red certainly has her poised to be an exciting new name worth following. Simply put, Chiang’s energy, angst, and excitement seems to fully encompass that of adolescent youth. She’s endlessly endearing, while also being completely relatable, as her work here immediately transports you back to memories of middle school, hanging out with friends, and fighting with family. The passion she encompasses throughout this performance will have you laughing just as much as it might even have you crying. She’s that good.
Jenny Slate originated the character of Marcel the shell with shoes on a few YouTube shorts back in 2010, and 12 years later, she brought Marcel back in his own feature film. For such a small character with limited experiences, Slate brings so much depth, emotion, and feeling. Marcel’s small voice and the thoughts and observations that come from it are some of the best and most life-affirming lines of dialogue from the entire year, from shells and people alike.
Make sure to check out the previous 2022 Sifties winners, and don’t forget to check back tomorrow for the winner of Best Film Ensemble! You can also listen to the SiftPop writers’ top five movies of the year on the SiftPop Writers’ Room Podcast!