The Independent Spirit Awards champions the indie movie, and in many ways are the antithesis of The Academy Awards. This year in particular, movies many felt were snubbed by The Oscars such as Drive, Take Shelter, Shame, and Martha Macy May Marlene were recognized. Seth Rogen was the presenter, and although a few of his jokes failed to hit the mark, I think his opening monologue is pretty damn funny, if a little juvenile! He takes swipes at the man CBM loves to hate, Brett Ratner, as well as Chris Brown, Mel Gibson and a good natured jab at General Zod (aka Michael Shannon) is also a highlight. Check it out..
The thing is,
The Artist still cleaned up! Anyway here are a list of the nominees in each category, with the winners in bold..
Best Feature
"50/50"
"Beginners"
"Drive"
"Take Shelter"
"The Artist"
"The Descendants"
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius - "The Artist"
Mike Mills - "Beginners"
Jeff Nichols - "Take Shelter"
Alexander Payne - "The Descendants"
Nicolas Winding Refn - "Drive"
Best Screenplay
Joseph Cedar - "Footnote"
Michel Hazanavicius - "The Artist"
Tom McCarthy - "Win Win"
Mike Mills - "Beginners"
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash - "The Descendants"
Best First Feature
"Another Earth" - Director: Mike Cahill
"In the Family" - Director: Patrick Wang
"Margin Call" - Director: J.C. Chandor
"Martha Marcy May Marlene" - Director: Sean Durkin
"Natural Selection" - Director: Robbie Pickering
Best First Screenplay
Mike Cahill, Brit Marling - "Another Earth"
J.C. Chandor - "Margin Call"
Patrick deWitt - "Terri"
Phil Johnston - "Cedar Rapids"
Will Reiser - "50/50"
John Cassavetes Award
"Bellflower" - Writer/Director: Evan Glodell
"Circumstance" - Writer/Director: Maryam Keshavarz
"Hello Lonesome" - Writer/Director: Adam Reid
"Pariah" - Writer/Director: Dee Rees
"The Dynamiter" - Writer: Brad Inglesby, Director: Matthew Gordon
Best Female Lead
Lauren Ambrose - "Think of Me"
Rachael Harris - "Natural Selection"
Adepero Oduye - "Pariah"
Elizabeth Olsen - "Martha Marcy May Marlene"
Michelle Williams - "My Week with Marilyn"
Best Male Lead
Demián Bichir - "A Better Life"
Jean Dujardin - "The Artist"
Ryan Gosling - "Drive"
Woody Harrelson - "Rampart"
Michael Shannon - "Take Shelter"
Best Supporting Female
Jessica Chastain - "Take Shelter"
Anjelica Huston - "50/50"
Janet McTeer - "Albert Nobbs"
Harmony Santana - "Gun Hill Road"
Shailene Woodley - "The Descendants"
Best Supporting Male
Albert Brooks - "Drive"
John Hawkes - "Martha Marcy May Marlene"
Christopher Plummer - "Beginners"
John C. Reilly - "Cedar Rapids"
Corey Stoll - "Midnight in Paris"
Best Cinematography
Joel Hodge - "Bellflower"
Benjamin Kasulke - "The Off Hours"
Darius Khondji - "Midnight in Paris"
Guillaume Schiffman - "The Artist"
Jeffrey Waldron - "The Dynamiter"
Best Documentary
"An African Election"
"Bill Cunningham New York"
"The Interrupters"
"The Redemption of General Butt Naked"
"We Were Here"
Best International Film
"A Separation" (Iran)
"Melancholia" (Denmark/Sweden/France/Germany)
"Shame" (U.K.)
"The Kid With a Bike" (Belgium/France/Italy)
"Tyrannosaur" (U.K.)
Robert Altman Award
"Margin Call"