12.02.08
Independent Spirit Nominations ‘09: ‘Ballast,’ ‘Frozen River,’ ‘Rachel Getting Married’ Lead
One of my favourite awards bodies, Film Independent’s Spirit Awards have announced their nominations, with critical favourites “Ballast,” “Frozen River” and “Rachel Getting Married” scoring six nominations apiece. Each film received nominations for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress (for Tarra Riggs, Melissa Leo and Anne Hathaway respectively). The winners will be announced on the 21st of February next year.
The Michelle William’s starring-vehicle “Wendy and Lucy,” and the Mickey Rourke-resurrecting “The Wrestler” round out the Best Picture nominations. Meanwhile, Tom McCarthy received a nomination for Best Director for his work on “The Visitor,” alongside “Chop Shop” helmer Ramin Bahrani.
For Best Actor, Javier Bardem (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”), Richard Jenkins (“The Visitor”), Sean Penn (“Milk”), Mickey Rourke (“The Wrestler”) and Jeremy Renner (“The Hurt Locker”) made the final five.
Michelle Williams (“Wendy and Lucy”) and Summer Bishil (“Toewlhead”) finished off the Best Actress category.
I didn’t want to get into the posting of entire nomination lists this season, as Awards Daily and In Contention do that so well already, but these nominations really do flip my pancake, so here they are:
Best Feature
“Ballast”
“Frozen River”
“Rachel Getting Married”
“Wendy and Lucy”
“The Wrestler”
Best Director
Ramin Bahrani, “Chop Shop”
Jonathan Demme, “Rachel Getting Married”
Lance Hammer, “Ballast”
Courtney Hunt, “Frozen River”
Thomas McCarthy, “The Visitor”
Best First Feature
“Afterschool”
”Medicine for Melancholy”
“Sangre de Mi Sangre”
“Sleep Dealer”
“Synecdoche, New York”
John Cassavetes Award (Given to the best film made for under $500,000)
“In Search of a Midnight Kiss”
“Prince of Broadway”
“The Signal”
“Take Out”
“Turn the River”
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)”
”Encounters at the End of the World”
“Man on Wire”
“The Order of Myths”
“Up the Yangtze”
Best Foreign Film
“The Class”
Gomorrah”
“Hunger”
“Secret of the Grain”
“Silent Light”
Robert Altman Award (awarded to a 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
Sam Juliano said,
December 2, 2008 at 8:08 pm
I am only saddened that THE VISITOR missed out on a Best Picture nod, even though Mr. McCarthy managed one. Richard Jenkins gave the best performance of the year by a lead actor, so he deserved the nod. Of course, I haven’t seen THE WRESTLER yet. Nice to see all the love for RACHEL and BALLAST.
Miranda Wilding said,
December 2, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Hmmm….
I’ll just give a shout out to the ones I feel most passionate about…
ABSOLUTELY THRILLED for WOODY ALLEN, JAVIER BARDEM (he got into Lead!!!!), RICHARD JENKINS and – of course – SEAN PENN.
Not too shabby, I guess.
Thanks, Nicky…
Nick Plowman said,
December 2, 2008 at 8:44 pm
I haven’t seen HALF of these films, so I am not sure why I am happy really, I just am? Weird.
But I can say, yay for the RGM love (not to rub it in that i like it, just saying), Slient Light, Up the Yangtze, VCB, Chop Shop and of course, Synecdoche New York.
The what the fuck award goes to: Savage Grace for Best Screenplay, where most of its problems (of which there were hundreds) originated. It’s baffling.
Gonzalo said,
December 2, 2008 at 9:20 pm
I have always liked these awards myself. But where is Slumdog? Hm.
Sam Juliano said,
December 2, 2008 at 9:32 pm
SLUMDOG will snare many other awards. Of this I am confident.
Matthew Lucas said,
December 2, 2008 at 10:47 pm
I don’t really get how they classify “independent” here. I JUNO qualified, SLUMDOG should as well. And obviously MILK was eligible…
I definitely agree about the WTF for SAVAGE GRACE. That movie is a the very definition of terrible.
I’m pulling for SYNECDOCHE to win its categories, and of course SILENT LIGHT. :-)
k said,
December 3, 2008 at 1:23 am
Was Slumdog not eligible? That seems like a notable snub to me.
I’m glad to see Franco picking up some steam, with the Hollywood Award and now nominations at the Satellites (I know, I know…) and Indie Spirits. I just saw Milk today and I think he was terrific.
Yeah, I’ll add my own “what the fuck?!” to Savage Grace getting a writing nod.
Matthew Lucas said,
December 3, 2008 at 1:29 am
K, I’m pretty sure there was an eligibility issue. I don’t know for certain though, but I can’t imagine any other explanation.
k said,
December 3, 2008 at 1:53 am
Yeah, I’m scratching my head at the omission. I can’t imagine there being another explanation.
J.D. said,
December 3, 2008 at 4:13 am
ROSEMARIE FTW. Ugh.
k said,
December 3, 2008 at 9:59 am
I guess Slumdog is ineligible because it was not produced by Americans? I don’t know, that’s what folks at AD are saying.
Nick Plowman said,
December 3, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Yeah, that makes sense I guess. Hm.
Sherry said,
December 3, 2008 at 3:59 pm
It does make sense. Overall, these are cool nominations, still am dying to see The Wrestler, which I think will take home the top prize.
James said,
December 4, 2008 at 5:11 pm
I completely disagree, Sherry. I believe it’ll go to either Frozen River, OR, more likely, Rachel Getting Married. RGM seems like the most popular one, despite FR being the more truly indie achievement.
I think TW will give it a run for its money though and if my NGNG prediction (TW for BP) pays off, it’d be the one to beat after all. But as a member of FilmIndependent, RGM is what I’ll be voting for as of now. I don’t think I’m alone either =P.
I really fucking love these nominations overall. Seeing Franco, DeWitt, Jenkins, and Leo nominated really warms my heart to no end. I hope they continue all the way to the Oscar, though it’ll be easier for the supporting peeps to do so.
James said,
December 4, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Also, hey Nick! GTFOn AIM sometime >.<.
Nick Plowman said,
December 4, 2008 at 7:02 pm
James, my laptop doesnt WORK anymore so AIM went with it. So. I am like ALWAYS on Yahoo, so. But I dont have time for you because you NEVER have time for ME. You come online for a while, then you disappear for weeks…you can’t mess with people like that!
SteveDenver said,
February 22, 2009 at 2:05 am
If SLUMDOG doesn’t qualify among the independent films and Woody-Allen-anything does, that’s screwed up.
Was thrilled that Melissa Leo won for b/Actress in FROZEN RIVER, and Thomas McCarthy won B/Director for THE VISITOR, both are excellent. I’m already tired again of Mickey Rourke, but Aronofsky is a masterful director and got the performance out of him.
C’mon Independent Spirit Awards, why was SLUMDOG omitted? Can it be because it almost went straight-to-video after Warner sank their “independent film” division?