Thanks to Paul Outlaw for pointing us to the Spirit Award Nominees at IFC.
Best Feature
“Ballast”
Producers: Lance Hammer, Nina Parikh“Frozen River”
Producers: Chip Hourihan, Heather Rae“Rachel Getting Married”
Producers: Neda Armian, Jonathan Demme, Marc Platt“Wendy and Lucy”
Producers: Larry Fessenden, Neil Kopp, Anish Savjani“The Wrestler”
Producers: Darren Aronofsky, Scott Franklin
Best Director
Ramin Bahrani, “Chop Shop”
Jonathan Demme, “Rachel Getting Married”
Lance Hammer, “Ballast”
Courtney Hunt, “Frozen River”
Thomas McCarthy, “The Visitor”
(more after the cut)
Best First Feature
“Afterschool”
Director: Antonio Campos
Producers: Sean Durkin, Josh Mond“Medicine for Melancholy”
Director: Barry Jenkins
Producer: Justin Barber“Sangre de Mi Sangre”
Director: Christopher Zalla
Producers: Per Melita, Benjamin Odell“Sleep Dealer”
Director: Alex Rivera
Producer: Anthony Bregman“Synecdoche, New York”
Director: Charlie Kaufman
Producers: Anthony Bregman, Spike Jonze, Charlie Kaufman, Sidney Kimmel
John Cassavetes Award (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000)
“In Search of a Midnight Kiss”
Writer/Director: Alex Holdridge
Producers: Seth Caplan and Scoot McNairy“Prince of Broadway”
Director: Sean Baker
Writers: Sean Baker, Darren Dean
Producer: Darren Dean“The Signal”
Writer/Directors: David Bruckner, Dan Bush, Jacob Gentry
Producers: Jacob Gentry and Alexander Motiagh“Take Out”
Writer/Directors/Producers: Sean Baker and Shih-Ching Tsou“Turn the River”
Writer/Director: Chris Eigeman
Producer: Ami Armstrong
Best First Screenplay
Dustin Lance Black, “Milk”
Lance Hammer, “Ballast”
Courtney Hunt, “Frozen River”
Jonathan Levine, “The Wackness”
Jenny Lumet, “Rachel Getting Married”
Best Screenplay
Woody Allen, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Anna Fleck and Ryan Boden, “Sugar”
Charlie Kaufman, “Synecdoche, New York”
Howard A. Rodman, “Savage Grace”
Christopher Zalla, “Sangre de Mi Sangre”
Best Female Lead
Summer Bishil, “Towelhead”
Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married”
Melissa Leo, “Frozen River”
Tarra Riggs, “Ballast”
Michelle Williams, “Wendy and Lucy”
Best Male Lead
Javier Bardem, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Richard Jenkins, “The Visitor”
Sean Penn, “Milk”
Jeremy Renner, “The Hurt Locker”
Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”
Best Supporting Female
Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Rosemarie DeWitt, “Rachel Getting Married”
Rosie Perez, “The Take”
Misty Upham, “Frozen River”
Debra Winger, “Rachel Getting Married”
Best Supporting Male
James Franco, “Milk”
Anthony Mackie, “The Hurt Locker”
Charlie McDermott, “Frozen River”
JimMyron Ross, “Ballast”
Haaz Sleiman, “The Visitor”
Best Cinematography
Maryse Alberti, “The Wrestler”
Lol Crowley, “Ballast”
James Laxton, “Medicine for Melancholy”
Harris Savides, “Milk”
Michael Simmonds, “Chop Shop”
Best Documentary
“The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)”
Director: Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath“Encounters at the End of the World”
Director: Werner Herzog“Man on Wire”
Director: James Marsh“The Order of Myths”
Director: Margaret Brown“Up the Yangtze”
Director: Yang Chung
Best Foreign Film
“The Class” (France)
Director: Laurent Cantet“Gomorrah” (Italy)
Director: Matteo Garrone“Hunger” (UK/Ireland)
Director: Steve McQueen“Secret of the Grain” (France)
Director: Abdellatif Kechiche“Silent Light” (Mexico/France/Netherlands/Germany)
Director: Carlos Reygadas
Robert Altman Award (Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast)
“Synecdoche, New York”
Director: Charlie Kaufman
Casting Director: Jeanne McCarthy
Ensemble Cast: Hope Davis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Catherine Keener, Samantha Morton, Tom Noonan, Dianne Wiest, Michelle Williams
60 Responses for "2009 Spirit Award Nominations"
The snub for Hiam Abbass is disappointing…..but overall its good =]
Always reasons to do my fair share of complaining and rejoicing, but as long as people keep acknowledging Rosemarie DeWitt and James Franco, I shall remain elated.
Milk edged out of Best Feature and Best Director is another surprise.
With Milk the 2nd-best reviewed movie of the year, that’s extraordinary praise for Ballast, Frozen River, Rachel Getting Married, Wendy and Lucy, and The Wrestler.
Checking the numbers, metacritic pretty much concurs:
85 Milk
84 Ballast
83 Chop Shop
82 Frozen River
82 Rachel Getting Married
79 The Visitor
No directing nod for Aronofsky? That’s disappointing.
No Hiam Abbas?????? It is such a beautiful performance. However happy for Penn, Franco & winger.
Franco!
Rachel Getting Married over Milk for Picture and Direction?
I had completely forgotten about “Towelhead” and was surprised to see Summer Bishil get a lead actress nomination. The movie is centered around her character so it makes sense; I just figured the movie may not have been well received, given the subject matter. She did do a good job of playing a young girl convincingly, which really made the film all the more disturbing and heartbreaking.
Is Kristin Scott Thomas not eligible for Indie Spirit? If so, she’s the one who really got snubbed! The exclusion of Milk in the Best Pic and Best Director categories is also dubious.
Maybe Milk’s exclusion will help it at the Oscars? Maybe it was too mainstream for IFC?
Great to see Michelle Williams and Debra Winger nominated. Makes me wonder what their chances really are of getting an Oscar nom.
Can’t wait for the Globe announcements next week!
Let’s not forget that the Independent Spirits are known for what they just did to Milk. Other notable films that weren’t nominated for Picture or Director, but were apparently eligible as they were nominated for other awards by the Indies include:
The Usual Suspects
Dead Man Walking
Being John Malkovich
In the Bedroom
Mulholland Drive
Crash
They’re an odd bunch. In 1992, The Player won Best Picture but didn’t garner a single other nod (no Altman, no screenplay, no Robbins). Also, remember, before people start pointing to the last several winners of the Indie Best Picture (Lost in Translation / Sideways / Brokeback / Little Miss Sunshine / Juno) and saying that no Indie winner wins Best Picture – Platoon won Best Picture at the Indies.
I feel there’s a lot missing. Am I right?
What the hell is wrong with people. Debra Winger? Really? Not only was the part incredibly small…but, quite honestly, I did not think it was a good performance either. She seemed the most uncomfortable and a little rusty to me.
Drinking the koolaid much? Just because she’s Debra Winger doesn’t mean she was great.
I am so excited to see James Franco on this list!!!! Right after seeing him on the Golden Satellites list!!! Just seeing his name keep popping up really makes me believe his name will be announced for an Oscar nomination!!! LOVE HIM!!!!!
Someone asked about Kristin Scott Thomas. I don’t believe she’s eligible because she’s in a foreign film.
Last year I was surprised Once only got nominated in one category–Best Foreign Film, which it won. But I think that may have been the only category it was eligible for.
Wow surprised to see James Franco on the list instead of Emile Hirsch or Josh Brolin – NOT that I’m complaining mind you – Maybe this with the Satellite nomination could be the beginning of a long awards season for James Franco.
I really like Michelle Williams as an actress. I thought she deserved the Oscar over Rachel Weisz and it would be nice to see her nominated again. How sweet would it be if she and Heath got nominated again in the same year?
“Someone asked about Kristin Scott Thomas. I don’t believe she’s eligible because she’s in a foreign film.
Last year I was surprised Once only got nominated in one category–Best Foreign Film, which it won. But I think that may have been the only category it was eligible for.”
That would also explain the absence of the Happy-Go-Lucky and Hunger teams.
Am i the only one who is excited to see Synecdoche, New York getting some serious love??? Winning the Altman Award and garnering nominations for Best Screenplay and Best First Picture shows some support for what may be the most interesting film of the year.
Enough to earn some Oscar nods???
Now that I’ve digested these, I really think if they nominated Bardem and Cruz, Rebecca Hall should have been nominated.
Back to the foreign film rule, I do think that affects what is nominated. But then I recall that Pan’s Labyrinth was nominated for Best Film last year, no?
Do foreign films have to submit themselves specially to be considered?
What we need are some Spirit nomination guidelines.
I think it’s great that SNY got the Altman award but I do think Milk deserves the award as well. Milk is so well cast.
“Debra Winger? Really? Not only was the part incredibly small…but, quite honestly, I did not think it was a good performance either. She seemed the most uncomfortable and a little rusty to me.”
I absolutely agree. Where almost everyone else in the film seemed to be going for a very naturalistic feel, she seemed really out of place. The performance was too stiff, or theatrical, or something. All the praise for her performance (particularly in comparison to Rosemarie DeWitt) surprises me.
woo hoo for Turn the River! (although i wish Famke had made the cut best actress…)
I’m really glad that the Indie Spirits don’t always pander to Hollywood and they nominate films like Wendy and Lucy, truly indie films, rather than films like Milk that will gets its share of nominations or even wins in the bigger award shows.
Given that such notable films as A Room with a View, The Crying Game and Topsy-Turvy received a Foreign Film nomination and nothing else from the Spirits, I’m gonna guess they’re only eligible in Foreign Film.
Most exciting category: Best Supporting Actor. Great to see Franco and Mackie recognized, but the real standout here is Haaz Sleiman. He brought such humanity to “The Visitor.” Hopefully Oscar will look beyond the obvious and rightfully nominate him.
Wendy and Lucy made the cut. Couldn’t be happier. Michelle’s nomination gives me hope for the awards season. Would love if this translates to the more mainstream awards. And the dog, jeez, when do the animals start getting recognized for their contributions?
Why was MILK shorted, Van Sant is one of IFCs darlings, I thought they would be behind him in a big way on Milk, not to mention the film’s cultural relevance right now
Interesting that Aronofsky didn’t see a lot of love.
Jonathan Demme is becoming the dark horse director of the year, he took the spot over Van Sant and Aronofsky
uhuh
Bardem and Cruz…both in the frontline…nice surprises ahead…
While there’s too much “Milk” spilled all over these awards, I do like the indications that this awards season will have some real variety, and different films will find their audiences. I fear last year it seemed like a smaller field, with some pretty clear front runners. Sure, the Oscars aren’t looking all THAT exciting, but they are happening within the context of a much more variegated awards season. I’m enjoying this.
I disagree with the Debra Winger hate. I think the movie found its grounding when she appeared on screen. The scene where she tells Rachel that she’s going to Washington (or wherever) instead of post-wedding bonding was emblamatic of her the distance that Winger successfully portrays. And it was smart casting on Demme’s part because it adds this weird meta-level to it that can only be afforded to some actress who hasn’t been around lately. Sure, I would award it to DeWitt over Winger, but I absolutely believe Winger deserves the nomination.
The big question is why no Kelly Reichardt!
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/01/movies/awardsseason/01academy.html?_r=1
Really interesting OT article abt changing Academy membership – Ellen Page and Casey Affleck were not invited, but more foreign and indie actors were, and also some producers and directors seemingly at random. Not casting judgment, but just stating.
I agree Videozu.
I think some people need to watch RGM again so that could understand the character of Abby more or just watch some of Demme’s own commentaries so that you can see what he wanted for each character. One cannot display too much comfortness when playing the estranged mother and I think it’s detailed very clearly why her character was uncomfortable, especially towards her daughter Kym.
With that said, I think Winger did a spectacular job with the time she had and she should be recognized. It also shouldn’t matter if the role was small because I think the Academy has shown a great deal that time does not matter. So, I hope to see her and Rosemarie DeWitt at the Oscars next year. Have a Nice Day!!!
Re: Winger in RGM
I don’t think anyone is denying that Winger is a talented and under-used actress, and yes, people have won Oscars for less screen time, but what I feel is that it would be a shame if Rosemarie DeWitt’s performance was overlooked in favour of a “comeback” or veteran’s nod for Winger.
Yes, Winger’s character’s silence and absence goes a long way to explaining Rachel and Kim’s problems, but for real impact, DeWitt is there front and centre.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/01/movies/awardsseason/01academy.html?_r=1
Really interesting OT article abt changing Academy membership – Ellen Page and Casey Affleck were not invited, but more foreign and indie actors were, and also some producers and directors seemingly at random. Not casting judgment, but just stating.
“The actors’ branch shrank more quickly than expected, to 21 percent, or 1,222 members, at present from over 23 percent, or 1,389 members, in 2000. The falloff occurred, Mr. [Bruce] Davis[, the academy’s executive director] said, as Tom Hanks and others on the branch’s governing committee, tightening the rolls, in some years admitted only a little more than half of their allotment of 28 or so.
This year the branch offered no invitation to Ellen Page, who was nominated for the lead actress for her role in “Juno.” Neither did it open the doors to Casey Affleck, nominated for his supporting role in “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford”; nor Amy Ryan, nominated for her supporting role in “Gone Baby Gone”; nor Saoirse Ronan, nominated for her supporting role in “Atonement.”
The actors’ branch, Mr. Davis said, might have gone too far. “I need to start urging them in the other direction,” he said.”
Just came back from Milk… glad to see things are looking strong for Franco.
It seems to me that receiving a nomination should pretty much be an invitation to join AMPAS. The fact that Saoirse Ronan isn’t a member but Dakota Fanning is is really strange to me. And Steve Carrel is but not Amy Ryan? Seriously.
No Ellen Page, and yet Diablo Cody is already an AMPAS member? Any wagers on who stands the best chance of ever being nominated again?
Jack Fisk, only invited last year — I guess because none of these films were convincing proof that he’d ever have a lasting career in Hollywood:
Badlands (1973)
Carrie (1976)
Eraserhead (1977)
Days of Heaven (1978)
The Thin Red Line (998)
Mulholland Dr. (2001)
The New World (2005)
Apparently, since There Will Be Blood was his first Oscar nomination.
Buddy Hackett, AMPAS member since the Stone Age. Because, of course, legendary thespian Buddy Hackett. Sorry that he’s no longer with us, but on the other hand, he’s no longer an AMPAS member either.
(sure, kids will be complaining about stick-in-the-mud oldsters like Diablo Cody 50 years from now… er, if not sooner.)
“Back to the foreign film rule, I do think that affects what is nominated. But then I recall that Pan’s Labyrinth was nominated for Best Film last year, no?
Do foreign films have to submit themselves specially to be considered?
What we need are some Spirit nomination guidelines.
I think it’s great that SNY got the Altman award but I do think Milk deserves the award as well. Milk is so well cast.”
daveylowe, The Indie awards nominated foreign films PRODUCED by AMERICAN studios; like Pan’s labyrinth and Crouching Tigger, hidden dragon, those films were co-production between an american studio and a foreign one.
Films like I’ve Loved you so Long, Happy-Go-Lucky and Hunger are exclusive EUROPEAN productions so, they’re out of the consideration. No American money or crew.
Someone wrote:
I’m really glad that the Indie Spirits don’t always pander to Hollywood and they nominate films like Wendy and Lucy, truly indie films, rather than films like Milk that will gets its share of nominations or even wins in the bigger award shows.
**************************
But they have gone with the obvious in the past like Juno and Sideways and other critical darlings. I really don’t see how Milk is a Hollywood film–if it is, then there’s another Hollywood out there I don’t know about.
Was there some sort of eligibility issue with Slumdog Millionaire?
@ k:
See #15, 17, 19, 23 & 40 above.
Ah, I missed that. Thanks, Paul.
That seems like a strange rule, though.
Go Synecdoche!
…
Have a Nice Day – I agree. And for those who think Winger’s performance was still its because the character felt very distant and out of place. I thought Winger was superb. I’m not a fan of political nominations over performance nominations, and if Winger goes on to the Oscars with a nod I think it will be very deserved, not at all a comeback. From what I’ve read about Debra Winger this is less of a comeback and more of an appearance in film.
The problem I have with Rosemary DeWitt is that her part wasn’t supporting at all. Yes the focus was on Kym but screen time, this was Michael Corleone in the Godfather all over again (and yes, I know THAT won BSA too). Other than that, she deserves any notice she gets for this part. Her problem will be that it wasn’t a very showy part. Just great acting.
I was surprised that:
Marisa Tomei didn’t get nominated
Same with Bill Irwin
And Milk for best picture
BUT
the nominations are great
I also don’t believe that Milk was made for $15 million like it says on IMDB. It felt like it was more expensive.
Great nominations, although I am a little baffled that Milk and Gus Van Sant were left out of the mix, particularly since the film is being clouted as a big Oscar contender.
A little confused also that Darren Aronofsky was left out of best director, and Marisa Tomei out of the best supporting actress.
And I have to disagree wholeheartedly about Debra Winger. I thought she was absolutely fantastic in Rachel Getting Married. Her performance was so distant and so vacant, but it totally validated the feelings she has toward her family–in particular her two daughters. It was a magnificent performance. Although, i DO agree with those who have said that she should not be nominated before Rosemarie DeWitt–who nearly stole the whole show in my opinion.
But in a perfect world both ladies would be nominated in supporting actress–but I doubt that will happen. I can wish though…
So, not to take away from Rosemarie DeWitt, but I’m on the Debra Winger was great in RGM.
Debra Winger’s Abby, to me, was the character that pulled that story together. That last scene with Abby was great and subtle. Great scene. And I think Winger really owned that role.
I’m up for nods for all the ladies in RGM. Also, for Bill Irwin.
“this was Michael Corleone in the Godfather all over again (and yes, I know THAT won BSA too).”
No… Joel Grey won that year.
absolutely right on Joel Grey. My bad. See and his WAS truly a supporting part. Interesting though to look up that year. Wow. Pacino, Caan and Duval all from the same film. So hey, if they can do it, we can hope for Debra Winger AND Rosemary DeWitt from RGM, right?
Overall, the nominee list is pretty good. I’m glad to see Medicine for Melancholy on it.
Why isn’t Slumdog Millionaire on this list?
Sally Hawkins? Happy Go Lucky? No?
How is The Hurt Locker even eligible? I thought it wasn’t going to be released until 2009. And I am surprised to see Synecdoche, New York
on any awards list. I admire all of the talented artists involved with this film and their intent but honestly… seeing a screening of this film was one of the most excruciatiing movie going experiences of my life.
re: How is The Hurt Locker even eligible?
I heard that the Hurt Locker was well-received at Toronto & Venice film festivals (one or both being qualifiers for Spirit awards). It apparently got a five or ten minute standing ovation at Venice.
However it seems that the small-time indie distributor has their hands full with the unexpected success of TWILIGHT and some other small indie release, THE BROTHERS BLOOM, and has seemingly dropped the ball on releasing THE HURT LOCKER, potentially squandering all the critical festival and awards season momentum. Too bad for Kathryn Bigelow, the cast and crew. They’ll probably have to wait it out another year and by then critics and awards shows will likely have amnesia…
Great to see the recognition given to Chris Zalla’s first film, “Sangre de mi Sangre” which won Sundance as “Padre Nuestro” in 2007. A powerful drama about the plight of illegal immigrants in the U.S., it didn’t get wide distribution for some reason so perhaps the Spirit nomination may finally bring it to the American public’s attention.
Glad to see Summer Bishil’s performance wasn’t forgotten. It was a brilliant performance. Although, the movie it self wasn’t wildly accepted her work was what made the movie real and gut-wrenching. Best natural actress in a long time.
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