Independent Spirit Awards Winners
Best Film: Silver Linings Playbook
Best Director: David O. Russell, Silver Linings
Best Cinematography: Ben Richardson, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Best Male Lead: John Hawkes, The Sessions
Best Female Lead: Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings
Cassavetes Award: Middle of Nowhere
Best Screenplay: David O. Russell, Silver Linings
Best International Film: Amour
Best Supporting Actress: Helen Hunt, The Sessions
Best Supporting Actor: Matthew McConaughey, Magic Mike
Best First Feature: Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
First Screenplay: Derek Connolly, Safety not Guaranteed
Best Documentary: The Invisible War
There is essentially nothing that they can do tonight that will be worse than giving Best Picture to the risible SLP. Except geive it the Oscar. Forget whether or not it’s independent. It’s just a bad movie.
These actually made me sick.
Tonight it’s David vs Goliath and were awarding Goliath ….. YEAH RIGHT!
So disappointed with the SLP wins. This was a 21million dollar film starring a 2 time Oscar winning legend, 2 other recent Oscar nominees, and an Oscar nominated director. Backed by Weinstein …. This is not the underdog, nor is at better than any of the nominees.
The credibility of these awards, already pretty low, have now been destroyed.
This makes me very frightened for the Oscars however.
Someone on Twitter pointed out that in every category except Lead Actor and Documentary, the winner was the highest-grossing film.
I agree with Andrew and Natasha, SLP is not an independent movie just low budget but as usual Harvey’s touch reaches far and away at the expense of truly independent gems like Beasts, what a shame. I hope Riva wins tonight .
“The Dependent Spirit Awards.”
Good shot, Natasha. I’d even go one step further; The Co-Dependent Spirit Awards.
So these should be renamed the low budget awards?
A big studio making a low budget film does not make it independent.
What a ridiculous set of awards
Scotty – how the FI defines “independent” film:
http://www.spiritawards.com/about-2/faq
Scroll down to FAQ 14-16. Basically, the film has to have a budget less than $20 million. SLP has a budget of $21 million, so the nominating committee used the “wiggle room” the vague nominating guidelines have in order to nominate SLP. Notice it says that a film can still be considered “independent” even if it is fully financed by a studio if it has “original/provocative” subject matter. Too much wiggle room and room for interpretation.
Totally unsurprisingly results, and very typical of the IFA in the last decade. The mainstream film that has the most public/awards exposure and is Oscar nominated for Best Picture sweeps the major awards.
SLP was my favorite movie of the year … glad they took home some awards : )
Anyone who doesn’t like it can chew on rusty batteries.
SLP over the Beasts?? Big travesty.
How about not crossing out a whole word?
The Dependent Spirit Awards.
@Kevin: either this is the kiss of death for SLP at the Oscars like some people say about Independent Spirit Awards….or you might be right in tune with very last minute upward trending buzz for SLP in terms of your prediction above.
Who knows.
Can someone tell me how the IFP defines independent?
At this point, I have trouble thinking a movie with the big budget of SLP with its relentless Oscar campaign, big stars, and well-known director as indie. What was the difference between that and say The Master which had a lot more substance and seemed much less accessible to the typical American movie-going audience?
@joe
…and? Thanks for the plot summary — perhaps you can write the back cover copy when the DVD is released in a few weeks.
Nothing you said makes it the “best” anything.
Beasts of the Southern Wild was heartpounding.
I just saw the silver linings playbook and i thought it was a serious movie about a man who struggles with anxiety disorder bur survives by meeting a girl with not getting what she wants in life. Bradley Cooper is a fine young actor. Robert De Niro cries and feels alone and wants to make Sunday the day that he spends time with his son. Game Day.
Yvette, I seriously think he has a Paul Newman ability to pull off effortless charm, toughness, and bravado. The problem is for the last decade he has been in very terrible movies and that effortlessness felt like lack of effort for people. I kept on seeing other, lesser actors like Josh Lucas be deemed ‘the next Paul Newman’ and I kept on thinking, “No! They’re all low-rent McConaugheys and he’s currently in some awful films so there is no hope for them!” But I am certain that this year is THE YEAR. Mud (Directed by Jeff Nichols who is an unabashed Paul Newman fan and from the looks of it he took from Cool Hand Luke and Hud with this film), The Dallas Buyer’s Club (not sure if this film will be great but it is bait-y), and The Wolf of Wall Street (as somebody who really has an irrational hatred of Leo DiCaprio, I am so rooting for McConaughey to blow him out of the water in scenes). I am still bitter about his non-nomination. Waltz, Hoffman, and Jones, fine. But had Arkin and DeNiro is just a case of studio campaign stuffing the ballot boxes.
And as far the ISP. To borrow from Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, it is an Awards Show that is Independent IN SPIRIT!!!!!!!
In all seriousness the last few winners make me question why none of them were not produced in a major studio and what idiots at those studios would pass those films and filmmakers up. Soderbergh made a cheap Magic Mike that got an incredibly gross return. How does one say no to that? Or did Soderbergh just actively avoid the studios for more independence?
I just read that SLP cost $22 million to make which should have disqualified it for these awards. But it was allowed anyway. Boo. At least Harvey couldn’t but the best actor award.
Oh, I really don’t understand the hype in “Perks of…”. It’s because it remembers people how they suffered in High School for being “losers” in an emotional and “human” way? I think it’s a nice, cute film, but it’s so FULL of clichés and that screenplay is so lazy (c’mon, you should adapt a novel to film without using a voice over which exists only to TELL the audience what you couldn’t SHOW]
So thrilled to see John Hawkes win, he’s a terrific actor and is destined for an Oscar someday.
Also couldn’t be happier for Helen Hunt, she’s such a classy lady. Would love to see a complete upset tomorrow night and Helen take the Oscar for supporting!
SLP INDEPENDENT?? My arse. How does this awards body define INDEPENDENT? I’d love to know.
“Yeah, people overuse the word “fearless” when describing a performance. To me, a fearless performance would be one where someone takes a hammer and starts beating themselves in the head with it, or something similar.”
Since that comment was clearly directed at me, rufussondheim, let me reiterate, that yes, I do think Riva’s performance was fearless. Not in the sense of inflicting corporeal punishment on herself, of course. But it was a bold performance. Of course, that has to do with the character she is playing, who too is stoic and dauntless in the face of her mortality. I don’t think there is one way to define fearless and I don’t think I’ve misused the word either.
I like SLP and think David O. Russell did a great job directing. But I’m starting to think that suit is fused to his body.
It’s the same one right?
I’m very happy for Silver Linings Playbook, Safety Not Guaranteed, and Matthew McConaughey! It’s also nice to see Jennifer Lawrence and John Hawkes win top prizes tonight, after both of them starred together a few years ago in Winter’s Bone. Independent Spirit Awards rule!
What do OTHER people love?
Superhero movies with manboys in them. 😛
CMG,
I agree about Mcconaughey…One of the best things about this year has been the McConnausance – it’s a thing of beauty.
Even that period when he was doing his worst movies (2003-2009) I knew, I KNEW…..there was something there that remained untapped in his career.
He’s quirky and a little out-there, like his buddy, Woody Harrelson. He’s intelligent and intense. He’s a real iconoclast in the way he lives his life and not an ‘industry type’.
And he’s got more swagger and charisma in his little pinky than the Damons, Pitts etc…have in their collective bodies. I think last year was a ‘welcome back’ year, not quite ready to be fully accepted, but like you, I’m looking forward to 2013 and Mud, Wolf of Wall Street and The Dallas Buyers Club and whatever else he does in the future. He’s going to grow better with age.
I always rooted for him but like a lot of us who remembered him from Dazed, Frailty etc….
was starting to think he had just given up. It’s good to see the industry embrace like they have this year – even if he should have gotten the nod in place of Arkin and DeNiro….old habits die hard.
I DO have to wonder what many people WISHED had won the Big Awards. As Bing said: LINCOLN is too boring; SILVER LININGS is too blah, and so is ARGO; BEASTS is too cheap; AMOUR is foreign; LES MISERABLES didn’t work and neither did LIFE OF PI (though I hear the fewest complaints about the latter). No one seems to have seen ZERO DARK THIRTY, but even if they have, they’re not willing to vote for it. So it leads you to believe that DJANGO UNCHAINED is their choice. Which, really, is just like saying THE DARK KNIGHT RISES is their choice. It’s a superhero movie, dressed up in another disguise, and directed by a badass manboy.
I do have to applaud those who recognize THE MASTER as the AMERICAN movie of the year (even though few have seen the REAL movie of the year, ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA–this film will certainly be one of the movies that is recognized as one of the greats at the end of this decade).
As for this site, I do love LINCOLN for many of its assets (Day-Lewis and Kuschner, primarily). I love ZERO DARK THIRTY for its craft and its lead performance. I love AMOUR for its passion throughout. I love other movies that were not nominated, like COMPLIANCE, CLOUD ATLAS, DAMSELS IN DISTRESS, TAKE THIS WALTZ, HOLY MOTORS, and BERNIE,
I love SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN. I consider that the movie we can all agree on.
I love WRECK-IT RALPH, and FRANKENWEENIE, too.
I talk about love a lot. Does this make me weird? What do OTHER people love? Or does love embarrass you? I think it does. I think love embarrasses the hell out of you. I think you think it’s more fun to tear things down than to build things up. Am I wrong? Does the mere asking of this question embarrass you?
I talk about love a lot. Does this make me weird? What do OTHER people love?
I love this whole comment you wrote.
Yeah, people overuse the word “fearless” when describing a performance. To me, a fearless performance would be one where someone takes a hammer and starts beating themselves in the head with it, or something similar. You know, something for Videodrome. As for Helen Hunt, long live the wrinkled flesh!
Anyone have a link for a live streaming video of the Spirit Awards? One that’s actually working? Thanks.
almost everyone thought the more deserving John Hawkes would receive an Oscar nomination over Bradley Cooper.
Don’t talk crap. Many people thought that Cooper was a near-lock for the nomination while Phoenix and Hawkes were battling it out for the last spot.
You know what I noticed? Every person on this site has a problem with every movie nominated for the Oscars. It’s either Silver Linings isn’t that great or Argo doesn’t deserve to win or Lincoln was too boring or Life of Pi was offensive at the end blah blah blah.
“Such UGLY comments on this board.”
You haven’t read anything yet. Just wait ’til Sunday.
” Such UGLY comments on this board. Silver Linings Playbook is a masterpiece. Too bad John Hawkes beat out Bradley Cooper though, what a shame. ”
Ryman, almost everyone thought the more deserving John Hawkes would receive an Oscar nomination over Bradley Cooper. So, I am happy that he won this award. Cooper cannot walk a mile in Hawkes’ shoes. Believe that !
Silver Linings Playbook isn’t a masterpiece but I do like it a lot. I’m most happy about The Perks of Being a Wallflower winning, even though it’s really not Chbosky’s first feature. Whatever, it was my favorite movie from 2012 and I’m glad it got some recognition.
Don’t blame me I’m from Massachusetts.
I voted for George McGovern and Beasts of the Southern wild for bp ,bd and best actress.
“Silver Linings Playbook is a masterpiece”.
Federico Fellini and Yasujiro Ozu be damned, this O Russell kid is well on his way to multiple Sight & Sound citations come 2022.
Clearly, some people don’t even know what a masterpiece is. Silver Linings Playbook will be one of those movies people forget ever existed…even among cinephiles who make sure to know everything about cinema.
It’s utterly forgettable, and not indie.
Such UGLY comments on this board. Silver Linings Playbook is a masterpiece. Too bad John Hawkes beat out Bradley Cooper though, what a shame.
When did this happen? It’s 6:30 in Chicago….I thought this started at 8pm?
LOL at the “independent” being crossed out in the header.
Elaine Benes (Seinfeld) bangs on the counter in front of the Soup Nazi:
“Back it up, you’re through Soup Nazi. No more soup for you. NEXT! (her eyes aflame)
Silver Linings Playbook – it’s the end of the line for you. Enjoy it while it lasts. You’re going 0 for 8 tomorrow.
Geez SLP again. It’s an overrated overacting BS movie.
Awards are for the popularity nor its about a great performance or talent. It’s like any other profession. If you to move up a level Just keep BS-ing.
It’s an indie. Deal with it!!! It’s budget is low. Doubt Harvey had anything to do with it. What does he care about these awards when nobody really knows about it? And with the Oscars tomorrow.
ISA members have lost their collective minds. SLP is considered an ‘independent film’? I guess having Harvey Weinstein behind your film is an automatic slamdunk even among groups like the ISA organizations that should have known better. BOTSW is the epitome of what independent film is all about. And I think is a slap to the other films nominated that are actually products of independent filmmaking to lose to a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
steve50,
Thanks for the list.
“Black Swan over Winter’s Bone” = Winter’s Bone is so all indie over its place and a great (indie) film too; it was a shame….
—
To me, indies are working outside studios. They supposedly finance their own projects independently, to begin with, a la – say – […] Curtis, and Beasts.
Strictly speaking, this is unfair to the real indies in the industry. They’ve had a hard time financing their own projects already, to begin with.
@Sasha
I’m really surprised you haven’t written anything about The Invisible War. That film is right up your alley and should be the one winning Best Documentary. Sugar Man is a fluff piece compared to it.
Silver Linings Playbook over the more poetic, masterful Beasts of the Southern Wild? Someone please wake me up from this nightmare.
I’m glad you crossed out “Independent” because with rare exceptions, this has become a studio and Big Money affair. They really need to make an independent film awards where it’s truly a place for independent films to garner more attention. I’m sorry, but where’s the independent spirit, the independent vision, in Silver Linings Playbook?
2012 – SLP over Beasts and Moonrise
2011 – The Artist over Drive
2010 – Black Swan over Winter’s Bone
2009 – Precious over anything
2008 – The Wrestler over Frozen River and Wendy & Lucy
2007 – Juno over Diving Bell / Butterfly
2006 – ….
The last film to win that doesn’t have a big studio name next to it on wikipedia (shudders) is 2002 – Far From Heaven.
Fox Searchlight is all over most of the last 6 years, but TWC is going to take care of that at this rate.
Not all that independent, really
Boo…………
except for the John Hawkes win. I’m not even a big Beasts fan, but it deserved more recognition here. Cooper is the big loser. And De Niro shouldn’t be winning tomorrow night when he couldn’t even get nominated here.
I’m a big fan of SLP but how is it an indie?
I really believe Harvey Weinstein is a Hollywood bully that gets what he wants. I heard the stories about him going unannounced to the offices of The Hollywood Foreign Press to get the votes for his films. He probably did the same thing for the Independent Spirt Awards. Beasts of the Southern Wild should have won, because it is the definition of quality indie filmmaking.
It’s so disgusting to see a film like SLP win at these awards designed for ACTUAL independent films like the majority of the other nominees. I’m pretty sure the rules are; budget needs to be $20 million or less, and according to BoxOfficeMojo, SLP has a budget of $21 million (most likely not including marketing costs).
Lickarses.
Yeah, Beasts of the Southern Wild should have won BP as the spirit of independent cinema is ingrained in its every frame. What a letdown!
I thought Wallis or the Nowheremlady could mount a challenge, but what’s done s done. And may the odds be ever in Lawrence’s favor tomorrow against the last minute candidacy of Riva.
Zeitlin was gonna be my NGNG pick for Oscar tomorrow but if the Indies did not spring for it, I doubt Oscar will. I just remember reading a lot of year end magazines and blogs and everyone mentioning how much they loved Beasts. If Oscar wanted to throw a bone everywhere tomorrow – Haneke could win foreign film, O Russell could win screenplay and Zeitlin director.
br-r-r-r-r.
God, now I’m actually hoping Argo wins.
“Silver Linings Playbook has won Best Picture !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am certain it wil win Best Picture at the Oscars too”
Not until hell freezes over.
David O. Russell has a turd of an attitude. He proved he hasn’t changed with his disrespectful reaction shot at the Bafta Awards. Russell is still full of himself.
I will never understand the love of Silver Linings Playbook. This movie is disappointing on every level. David couldn’t seamlessly blend the family drama, the awful rom-com, the dance competition, and the lightweight comedy. Jennifer Lawrence’s performance was the weakest link of SLP. She tried very hard, but Lawrence brought no depth to her character ( and her role was badly developed ) .
It feels so wrong to call SLP indie.
I am glad that they gave recognition to The Invisible War. I understand that some people (readers here? & critics?) believe Sugarman will win the Oscars, but I believe The Invisible War has an equal chance.
Anyway, I am not trying to crash the party; so, first of all, congrats to all the winners, especially the SLP slots. Still, I just don’t understand it – from the nom list on another thread this so-called Independent […] Awards don’t really sound indie to me with films like SLP on the list, to be honest.
No harsh feeling here; I am a JLaw fan and love the film. Just trying to understand their philosophy behind the nom process….
[I mean Beasts obviously is indie, but SLP???….]
Well it’d be nice if I could see this sweep live. Dang it!
I’m going to have to turn over a new leaf and become one of those people who watches taped sports and awards shows without spoiling myself earlier. I have no idea how to do that but life is so much crappier finding out through smoke signals.
I cannot stand OOO russell
John Hawkes wins best lead actor!
Let me take a moment to puke. Beasts is the epitome of the Indie Spirit awards, not this Weinstein backed Silver Linings Playbook. There is nothing indie about it!
Grrrrrr
Disappointed with bd but O’Russell did a great job.
filmboymichael , I hope Helen Hunt doesn’t win the Oscar. Her role was a co-lead performance ( just like Philip Seymour Hoffman’s turn in The Master ) , not a supporting performance. I am sick and tired of this category fraud that is going on-just to get nominations for awards. By the way, taking your clothes off is not fearless. Give me a break !
Russell over Zeitlin (!)
“Wallflower” was Chbosky’s second film after “The Four Corners of Nowhere,” which played Sundance and other festivals in 1994. Interesting that he won best “First feature.”
I voted for slp for best screenplay. Beast was not nominated but should have been.
yarrgh ggackk!
I just swallowed my gum.
I smell a Silver Linings sweep. We all did, though, didn’t we?
Silver Linings Playbook best screenplay!
It seems like there’s a general feeling of treating Hunt’s Oscar nominated turn in The Sessions as if it were like Marisa Tomei’s turn in both In the Bedroom and The Wrestler. Happy Hunt and Tomei can validate their controversial wins by bringing on a great performance (even after like ten years of absence).
@Ryan Adams – My wish for oscar is field – I know hathaway will win and I really don’t think she deserves it this time. I would be very pleasantly surprised, however, by a hunt win….I mean Helen shows her Hunt with reckless abandon and was really quite spectacular. I wonder if she’d have more traction if there wasn’t some ill will for her winning for As Good as it Gets.
Helen Hunt was so good. She’d be my vote for Oscar, out of the five nominees.
Helen Hunt!!!! so happy for her, she gave a great performance!
I’m actually pleased with the Helen Hunt win – it was a truly fearless performance….
I’m happy for Helen Hunt. She’s always handled the surprising stages of her career with consummate style and class.
Well she wouldn’t be winning ‘everything’ even if she pulled it off this weekend. She’d win 2 things. And she has no ‘ in her name.
I just read that Derek Connolly, winner for Safety not Guaranteed, was escorted from event by security because he was drunk!
Middle of Nowhere wins John Cassavetes Award.
I hate this tape delayed shit. lol Having the red carpet live and then not near the ceremony later is so incredibly stupid. It used to be fun to watch this in the afternoon back in the old days. Now that’s it’s not even at night, I can’t comprehend why they would copy the Baftas model.
Anyway, happy for McConaughey even if I can’t see it.
And you go, Stephen Holt! It’s good to be different. 🙂
This could be the beginning of Qu’venzhane winning EVERYthing!!! Wouldn’t THAT be cool??? Nobody’s expecting or predicting it, except moi.
I’m hopeing beast wins in all 4 catagories.i love slp also voters did receive a screener for slp that is the only advertising we received from Harvey.
The awards are usually at the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles. They put out a tent there.
Hoping for a Beasts sweep! Please no Silver Linings sweep!! I would love to see Jennifer Lawrence have another sourpus face again if Quevenzhane wins !
Here is also hoping Helen Hunt or Ann Dowd get recognized!
where are the awards?
This is a similar situation to the BAFTAs, where the Red Carpet is streamed live and the awards ceremony is pre-recorded then aired later in the day.
*Red carpet is live NOW
*Awards ceremony will be aired at 10PM EST!
Sorry for any confusion 😉
There’s no live stream of the ceremony.
STREAM OF THE SPIRIT AWARDS RED CARPET:
http://new.livestream.com/secretsoftheredcarpet/SpiritAwardsRed
LIVE STREAM OF THE SPIRIT AWARDS CEREMONY :
http://www.livestream.com/ifclive