by debbie lynn elias

THE SPIRIT AWARDS

Once viewed almost as the ugly stepsister to the Academy Awards, over the years the Spirit Awards have now become an important measuring stick as to what is truly golden in the art of filmmaking. From the unending support of its sponsor, Film Independent, to the spectacular showcase afforded by the Los Angeles Film Festival, the Spirit Awards celebrate not only independent filmmaking, but the art of the craft that truly encompasses the inherent essence and purity of film.

Originally known as the FINDIE Awards at its inception in 1984, the awards were renamed the Independent Spirit Awards in 1986. As an added bonus, members of what was then known as IFP and now Film Independent, of which I am proud to be a part of, began voting for the winners.

Over the past 22 years, the Spirit Awards have grown to be a highlight in not only the film industry but for our geographic area as well. As George Clooney opined a few years ago, independent films are truly now the mainstream of the industry.
So, this Saturday, independent filmmakers hit the beach in Santa Monica as they celebrate and honor what I believe is one of the finest years of independent filmmaking to come along in quite awhile. And don’t think for a minute this fete is by any means second rate. There are enough “swag” and celebratory parties to rival anything that the Academy Awards may turn out, without the uncomfortable formal attire and footwear.

I have been most fortunate this year by having not only viewed all of the nominated films, some as early as Los Angeles Film Festival in June 2007, but also interviewed the majority of nominees, many of whom I am now privileged to call friends. And I am pleased to note that Film Independent and the Spirit Awards nominating committee appear to be right in step with my top picks given the list of nominees.

So, who should shine on Saturday?

Right off the bat, I admit that there is one category that, for me, has no clear cut winner - that of the John Cassavetes Award. This is tie. Two of my favorite filmmakers, Chris Eska and Stephane Gauger are both nominated for their feature films, respectively, AUGUST EVENING, a poignant tale of an extended immigrant family, and OWL & THE SPARROW, a tale of three people among the 8 million souls in Saigon who are looking for love and a family. Both heartfelt and visually exquisite and touching, both were also award winners at Los Angeles Film Festival, AUGUST EVENING for not only the jury award for Best Feature Film but a special award for Best Ensemble, and OWL &THE SPARROW for the Feature Film Audience Award. I got to know both Chris and Stephan during LAFF thereafter and they are two of the most enthusiastic and passionate filmmakers around. With similar technique, they each rely on exemplary cinematography and natural sounds of the environ to tell a story. However, Stephane, an intuitive filmmaker, may have an added edge thanks to the beauty and elegance in his film’s simplicity which eloquently captures the beauty of Saigon and its people.

A category with extremely tough competition is that of Best First Feature. Leading the pack are Julie Delpy’s 2 DAYS IN PARIS, Scott Frank’s THE LOOKOUT and Jeffrey Blitz with ROCKET SCIENCE. The diversity in this category is extraordinary and never moreso than between THE LOOKOUT and ROCKET SCIENCE. Scott Frank is a master at big screen suspense and character development. As both writer and first time director, with THE LOOKOUT, he seamlessly melds unconventional and compelling characters with a searing realism and dark intensity of a classic film noir thriller. Jeffrey Blitz, on the other hand, takes his own life experiences with stuttering and wows us with the irreverent and funny tale of young Hal Hefner who must overcome stuttering, debating and puppy love in the course of a high school semester. It’s a toss up, but I think I’ve got to put my money on ROCKET SCIENCE.

And while Cate Blanchett not only garnered an Oscar nod for her portrayal Bob Dylan but a Spirit Award nomination, I have to believe it doesn’t take rocket science to know that Anna Kendrick should be a lock as Best Supporting Actress with her portrayal of Ginny in ROCKET SCIENCE. Although Blanchett is mesmerizing, I suspect that Spirit voters may look to Kendrick and leave Oscar gold for Blanchett. Steely and determined, Kendrick keeps you guessing as to exactly what Ginny is all about, holding back, building questions about Ginny, giving you the sense that something is bubbling beneath the surface before exploding with energy and emotion at precisely the right moment.

Someone who was so grossly overlooked by the Academy this year but thankfully, has been acknowledged by the Spirit Awards, is Frank Langella. As 70 year old novelist Leonard Schiller, Langella lifts the already superlative emotion generated by novelist Brian Morton’’s Pen/Faulkner award-nominated novel STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING to ethereal heights. With eloquence and simplistic beauty, his singular performance touched my heart so, so as to move me to tears. Although he is my pick for Best Male Lead, he will probably face stiff competition from Philip Seymour Hoffman in THE SAVAGES.

Best Female Lead is an interesting category. There was much ado about Angelina Jolie being passed over for Oscar for A MIGHTY HEART but in the spirit of independent film, she is one of the hot contenders for a Spirit Award. However, I think we’ve all got to give it up for Academy Award and Spirit Award nominee, newcomer, Ellen Page who just blows everyone out of the water as JUNO.

We might have a showdown when it comes to Best Picture and Best Feature Director with Julian Schnabel and Jason Reitman going head to head with THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY and JUNO, respectively. Both equally fine films, I think Schnabel’s experience may carry him further with the voters in both categories unless popular opinion prevails, in which case Reitman should win leaving Schnabel to possibly take home some Oscar gold on Sunday.

When it comes to the more eclectic categories like Best Cinematography, I think you all know my vote this year for every award in cinematography is Janusz Kaminki for DIVING BELL. His beauteous lensing takes us on the emotional roller coaster with long suffering Dominique Bauby. Paired with the superlative screenplay adaptation by Ronald Hardwood and Julian Schnabel’s direction, words pale to the visual excellence and emotional wrenching of this film.

And not to be overlooked is Best Documentary, long a cornerstone in independent film. Again, a tough category, but my pick is Dan Klores CRAZY LOVE, the most bizarre, insane, kitchy, and let’s face it, weirdest love story of the ages telling the true life story of Burt and Linda Pugach.

In case you aren’t one of the lucky few to make it into the tent down on the beach Saturday (although I will be thinking of you as I wander through the swag room), you can catch all the fun, frolic and unfettered exuberance of independent film and the Spirit Awards live on IFC channel at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time or on a repeat AMC broadcast later Saturday night.

And for those of you that don’t have your list at hand, THE NOMINEES ARE:

BEST PICTURE

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
I’m Not There
Juno
A Mighty Heart
Paranoid Park

BEST FIRST FEATURE

2 Days in Paris
Great World of Sound
The Lookout
Rocket Science
Vanaja

BEST SCREENPLAY

Ronald Harwood - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Tamara Jenkins - The Savages
Fred Parnes & Andrew Wagner - Starting Out in the Evening
Adrienne Shelly - Waitress
Mike White - Year of the Dog

BEST FEMALE LEAD

Angelina Jolie - A Mighty Heart
Sienna Miller - Interview
Ellen Page - Juno
Parker Posey - Broken English
Tang Wei - Lust, Caution

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE

Cate Blanchett - I’m Not There
Anna Kendrick - Rocket Science
Jennifer Jason Leigh - Margot at the Wedding
Tamara Podemski - Four Sheets to the Wind
Marisa Tomei - Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Mott Hupful - The Savages
Janusz Kaminski - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Milton Kam - Vanaja
Mihai Malaomare, Jr. - Youth Without Youth
Rodrigo Prieto - Lust, Caution

BEST FOREIGN FILM

4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days - Romania
The Band’s Visit - Isreal
Laddy Chatterley - France
Once - Ireland
Persepolis - France

ACURA SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD

Ramin Bahrani - director of Chop Shop
Lee Isaac Chung - director of Mynyurangabo
Ronnie Bernstein - director or Frownland

PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD

Anne Clements - Ping Pong Playa and Quinceanera
Alexis Ferris - Cthullu and Police Beat
Neil Kopp - Paranoid Park and Old Joy

BEST DIRECTOR

Todd Haynes - I’m Not There
Tamara Jenkins - The Savagaes
Jason Reitman - Juno
Julian Schnabel - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Gus Van Sant - Paranoid Park

JOHN CASSAVETTES AWARD

August Evening - Chris Eska
Owl and the Sparrow - Stephane Gauger
The Pool - Chris Smith
Wuiet City - Aaron Katz
Shotgun Stories - Jeff Nichols

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY

Jeffrey Blitz - Rocket Science
Soe Cassavetes - Broken English
Diablo Cody - Juno
Kelly Masterson - Before the Devil Knows You’re Dea
John Orloff - A Mighty Heart

BEST MALE LEAD

Pedro Castaneda - August Evening
Don Cheadle - Talk To Me
Philup Seymour Hoffman - The Savages
Tony Leung - Lust, Caution
Frank Langella - Starting Out in the Evening

BEST SUPPORTING MALE

Chiwetel Ejifor - Talk to Me
Marcus Carl Franklin - I’m Not There
Kene Holliday - Great World of Sound
Irfan Khan - The Namesake
Steve Zahn - Rescue Dawn

BEST DOCUMENTARY

Crazy Love - Dan Klores
Lake of Fire - Tony Kaye
Manufactured Landscapes - Jennifer Baichwal
The Monastery - Pernille Rose Gronkjaer
The Prisoner or How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair - Petra Epperlein and Michael Tucker

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD

I’m Not There

TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD

Laura Dunn - The Unforesson
Gary Hustwit - Helvetica
John Maringouin - Running Stumbled