So, today the Independent Spirit Awards were announced today, celebrating films which are made under 20 million dollars and are generally financed from outside sources. I’ve never watched the awards, but from what I have read, they don’t particularly lead to Oscar gold (Alan Arkin has been the sole recipient of both awards for supporting actor). That being said, the list looks rather strong, and I say that because I have seen some of these films and they were pretty strong, and some others which have gotten amazing reviews. That being said, here are the nominees and my predictions
BEST FEATURE
127 Hours
Black Swan
Greenberg
The Kids Are All Right
Winter's Bone
My prediction: While I am looking forward to seeing Black Swan and 127 hours, I see this as a competition between Kids are All Right and Winter’s Bone. I’m going to pick Kid’s are All Right because it is my favorite film of the year so far, but if Winter’s Bone wins I won’t be surprised, it is equally strong.
BEST DIRECTOR
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
Danny Boyle, 127 Hours
Lisa Cholodenko, The Kids Are All Right
Debra Granik, Winter's Bone
John Cameron Mitchell, Rabbit Hole
My Prediction: I would love to give it to Danny Boyle, but I think (or would hope that) Debra Granik for Winter’s Bone wins because I think she really did a good job
BEST SCREENPLAY
Stuart Blumberg, Lisa Cholodenko, The Kids Are All Right
Debra Granik, Anne Rosellini, Winter's Bone
Nicole Holofcener, Please Give
David Lindsay-Abaire, Rabbit Hole
Todd Solondz, Life During Wartime
My prediction: I see this one as being Cholodenko’s and Blumberg to lose, heck I will even say its my Oscar front-runner too
BEST FIRST FEATURE
Everything Strange and New
Get Low
Night Catches Us
The Last Exorcism
Tiny Furniture
No real prediction outside the fact that Get Low was the only one I saw, it was really good though.
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Diane Bell, Obselidia
Lena Dunham, Tiny Furniture
Nik Fackler, Lovely, Still
Bob Glaudini, Jack Goes Boating
Dana Adam Shapiro, Evan M. Wiener, Monogamy
Haven’t seen any, so no prediction
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
Daddy Longlegs
Lbs.
Lovers of Hate
Obselidia
The Exploding Girl
BEST FEMALE LEAD
Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Greta Gerwig, Greenberg
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence, Winter's Bone
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine
My prediction: I would love to see Jennifer Lawrence win, but this is Annette Bening to lose in my opinion, she is fantastic
BEST MALE LEAD
Ronald Bronstein, Daddy Longlegs
Aaron Eckhart, Rabbit Hole
James Franco, 127 Hours
John C. Reilly, Cyrus
Ben Stiller, Greenberg
My prediction: This selection of male leads is interesting to me, I think James Franco will be the one who will be receiving many awards for his role, so I’m giving it to him. On a side note, I am pretty surprised Robert Duvall didn't get nominated
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Ashley Bell, The Last Exorcism
Dale Dickey, Winter's Bone
Allison Janney, Life During Wartime
Daphne Rubin-Vega, Jack Goes Boating
Naomi Watts, Mother and Child
My prediction: Dale Dickey was insanely haunting in her role in Winter’s Bone, she’s my pick
BEST SUPPORTING MALE
John Hawkes, Winter's Bone
Samuel L. Jackson, Mother and Child
Bill Murray, Get Low
John Ortiz, Jack Goes Boating
Mark Ruffalo, The Kids Are All Right
My prediction: Ruffalo and Hawkes are great, but I think Bill Murray did a great job, also I think this was a different side of Murray we haven’t seen yet, so I think he should win
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Adam Kimmel, Never Let Me Go
Matthew Libatique, Black Swan
Jody Lee Lipes, Tiny Furniture
Michael McDonough, Winter's Bone
Harris Savides, Greenberg
My prediction: I thought the grittiness of Winter’s Bone was fantastic; I’m giving it to Michael McDonough
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Marwencol
Restrepo
Sweetgrass
Thunder Soul
My prediction: Never saw any, but I heard great things about Exit Through the Gift Shop so yeah, best of luck
BEST FOREIGN FILM
Kisses
Mademoiselle Chambon
Of Gods and Men
The King's Speech
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
My prediction: King’s Speech has gotten amazing reviews, plus it’s the only one I have heard of that comes to mind, so yeah
ACURA SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD
Hossein Keshavarz, Dog Sweat
Laurel Nakadate, The Wolf Knife
Mike Ott, Littlerock
PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD
In-Ah Lee, Au Revoir Taipei
Adele Romanski, The Myth of the American Sleepover
Anish Savjani, Meek's Cutoff
AVEENO® TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD
Ilisa Barbash, Lucien Castaing-Taylor, Sweetgrass
Jeff Malmberg, Marwencol
Lynn True, Nelson Walker, Summer Pasture
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD
Please Give
Director: Nicole Holofcener
Casting Director: Jeanne McCarthy
Ensemble Cast: Ann Guilbert, Rebecca Hall, Catherine Keener, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Lois Smith, Sarah Steele
My thoughts: heard this is a good film so I think everyone should see this, I mean come on, it’s got Catherine Keener, and she’s awesome
The Independent Spirit Awards air a day before the Oscars, I will try and post the winners when they are announced. That being said, you all should try and watch these movies, because they are amazing.
