‘Wrestler’ Ram Jams Spirit Awards

Film Independent handed out the Indie Spirit Awards this evening in Santa Monica for the best films produced for under $20 million. I’m especially glad to see some of the love for Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Synecdoche, New York but even most of the winners I didn’t pick are worthy. Nice to see In Search of a Midnight Kiss (one of the most likeable films of AFI 2007) go home with the Cassavetes award, though I was rooting for Prince of Broadway.

The Class wasn’t my favorite foreign film of the year, but I liked it better than any of the other nominees: The Secret of the Grain, Silent Light, Hunger and Gomorrah.

I’m a little surprised Ballast went home empty-handed, but judging by the sparsely attended Indie Spirit screenings, no one actually saw it. Though the nominees are chosen by a Film Independent jury, the winners are voted on by any dope who wants to pay $100 to keep their Film Independent membership current. Think of them as The Movie Nerd’s Choice Awards.

• Picture: The Wrestler
• Director: Tom McCarthy – The Visitor
• Female Lead: Melissa Leo – Frozen River
• Male Lead: Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler
• Supporting Female: Penelope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
• Supporting Male: James Franco – Milk
• Robert Altman Award for Ensemble: Synecdoche, New York
• Documentary: Man on Wire
• Foreign Film: The Class
• Screenplay: Woody Allen – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
• Cinematographer: Maryse Alberti – The Wrestler
• First Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black – Milk
• First Feature: Synecdoche, New York
• John Cassavetes Award (best feature made for less than $500,000): In Search of a Midnight Kiss
• Someone to Watch Award: Lynn Shelton – My Effortless Brilliance
• Producers Award: Heather Rae – Frozen River
• Truer Than Fiction Award: Margaret Brown – The Order of Myths

Filed under: Awards
Tags: Film Independent, Spirit Awards