Two movies lead the Spirit Award nominations, Silver Linings Playbook and Moonrise Kingdom, both with five. But heading into the race with 4 is Ava DuVernay’s Middle of Nowhere, the REAL little movie that could, funded by DuVernay herself. Middle of Nowhere earned acting nominations for three of its stars – Emayatzy Corinealdi, David Oyelowo and Lorraine Toussant. DuVernay is nominated for the Cassavettes award, and I know he would approve. Missing, unfortunately, is a writing nomination for DuVernay. Instead, screenplay nominations went to Moonrise Kingdom, Ruby Sparks, Seven Psychopaths, Silver Linings, Keep the Lights On. They might want to consider dividing up those awards into original and adapted, since making up a story from whole cloth is always much harder.
One small complaint:
I would have liked to have seen Edward Norton’s name listed as Best Supporting Actor (rather than Bruce Willis) in Moonrise Kingdom.
Norton gave a really good performance and was much more fun to watch than Willis . . . especially with those tight-asss ugly shorts he had to wear throughout the movie! It makes me laugh just thinking about that costume.
The most beautiful film I’ve seen all year. It should have nabbed Screenplay or Director but Cassavettes might be more fitting as Duvernay is clearly his heir. Still would have liked her to have a director nomination. Her cast deserves it all.
It was so good, thanks to the owners of amc’s star Southfield for playing it. I was so scared it wouldn’t make it here. I’m so happy it got nominations!
@ PaulH
box office mojo has pretty much stopped counting box office, but according to their website the movie is still playing in theatres.
@ Rod
I really want to see it too, but so far no release dates for anywhere in Canada.
The little film that could. Congrats to them.
$211,217 so far at the boxoffice; has it ended its run pretty much or just starting?
Sasha, I agree it would be nice if they broke out the screenplay awards into Adapted and Original. However, I don’t agree that “making up a story from whole cloth is always much harder.” The challenges of each are equally difficult but very different. Having taught screenwriting for many years, I can tell you that for many writers (and especially young filmmakers) it is often easier to write a screenplay based on something that originates in the writer’s head.
Sasha, I’m so glad you promoted this film on the blog, because it inspired me to go see it for myself, and I found it utterly bewitching. Emayatzy Corinealdi is magical.
I agree — I’m dying to watch Middle of Nowhere and the movie was never released in Vancouver. 🙁
Martin Richards, Oscar-winning producer of Best Picture Chicago, has died.
Dear Middle of Nowhere and Killing me Softly producers: Please put these movies online at the same time they are in theaters. Some of these movies are hard to find in neighborhood theaters, if they were online we would be able to see them too.