As occurs every year, the Gotham Independent Film Awards barely had a moment to bask in the blog sunshine before they’re swept away by the Independent Spirit Awards, a list of nominees that is far more sweeping and way more independent—independent right down to its very spirit. Because independence is a spiritual thing, and maybe the Gotham Awards are just spiritually empty, and in that case the Independent Spirit Awards just feel sad for them. This year their divide is even greater, with big Gotham winner The Tree Of Life completely shut out—though its “companion” Beginners did score four nods in all, including Best Screenplay and Best Actor for Christopher Plummer’s performance (which definitely seems like a lock come Oscar time).
If you were to pick a clear favorite at the Spiritsies, as we call them just to be irritating, The Artist and Take Shelter would definitely be in the lead, scoring five nominations apiece, including Best Feature. And naturally, The Artist’s strong showing has already provoked early controversy, as normally the Spiritsies go to films made by Americans, and both its writer-director and principal stars are French. However, a Film Independent spokesperson has already argued that it qualifies because, in addition to being filmed in America, director Michel Hazanavicius is a permanent U.S. resident. Also, The Artist is awesome, so shut up, everyone. (Note: Take Shelter is also awesome.)
Also awesome, mostly, or at least high on the list, given that they all scored four nominations apiece: The Descendants, Martha Marcy May Marlene, and Drive, with the lattermost film not only scoring in the Best Feature category but also both Best Actor for Ryan Gosling and Best Supporting Actor for Albert Brooks. Given some Oscar prognosticators’ feelings about Drive’s chances of being shut out completely, it should probably enjoy these little moments. Other surprises included a Best Feature nomination for 50/50 and a Supporting Actor nomination for John C. Reilly’s role in Cedar Rapids, about which we’re pretty sure even John C. Reilly is like, “What?” Meanwhile, the Best Documentary category features a nod for The Redemption Of General Butt Naked, a movie that is definitely not as fun as it sounds. Here’s the complete list of nominees. [h/t to Movieline for compiling these]
Best Feature
50/50
Beginners
Drive
Take Shelter
The Artist
The Descendants
Best Director
Mike Mills, Beginners
Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive
Jeff Nichols, Take Shelter
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Best First Feature
Another Earth
In The Family
Margin Call
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Natural Selection
Best Male Lead
Demian Bichir, A Better Life
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Ryan Gosling, Drive
Woody Harrelson, Rampart
Michael Shannon, Take Shelter
Best Female Lead
Lauren Ambrose, Think of Me
Rachel Harris, Natural Selection
Adepero Oduye, Pariah
Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
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