Tis the Season: The Independent Spirit Awards

It's that time of year again and I'm not talking about that little holiday lurking around the corner. No, it's awards season! As usual, the first serious announcements come from the Independent Spirit Awards. Last year, these folks launched the push that got FROZEN RIVER nominated for two Oscars so we'd best be taking them seriously. This year, PRECIOUS and the yet to be released, THE LAST STATION lead the pack with five nominations apiece. Missing among the PRECIOUS nominees was Mariah Carey in the supporting category. Her road to an Oscar nomination is off to a rough start. Other notable absences include Michael Stuhlberg (A SERIOUS MAN) and Ben Foster (THE MESSENGER). And while I am disappointed to see any love thrown in the direction of TWO LOVERS, I am happy to see some support for SIN NOMBRE. Maybe some surprise Oscar love is within its reach. I'm also very happy to see some strong support for (500) DAYS OF SUMMER and Tom Ford's A SINGLE MAN. Here are the nominees in the major categories ...

BEST FEATURE

(500) DAYS OF SUMMER
AMREEKA
PRECIOUS
SIN NOMBRE
THE LAST STATION

BEST DIRECTOR

Ethan Coen, Joen Coen, A SERIOUS MAN
Lee Daniels, PRECIOUS
Cary Joji Fukunaga, SIN NOMBRE
James Grey, TWO LOVERS
Michael Hoffmann, THE LAST STATION

BEST SCREENPLAY

THE MESSENGER
THE LAST STATION
THE VICIOUS KIND
ADVENTURELAND
(500) DAYS OF SUMMER

BEST FEMALE LEAD

Maria Bello, DOWNLOADING NANCY
Nisreen Faour, AMREEKA
Helen Mirren, THE LAST STATION
Gwyneth Paltrow, TWO LOVERS
Gabourey Sidibe, PRECIOUS

BEST MALE LEAD

Jeff Bridges, CRAZY HEART
Colin Firth, A SINGLE MAN
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, (500) DAYS OF SUMMER
Souleymane Sy Savane, GOODBYE SOLO
Adam Scott, THE VICIOUS KIND

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE

Dina Korzun, COLD SOULS
Mo'Nique, PRECIOUS
Samantha Morton, THE MESSENGER
Natalie Press, FIFTY DEAD MEN WALKING
Mia Wasikowska, THAT EVENING SUN

BEST SUPPORTING MALE

Jemaine Clement, GENTLEMEN BRONCOS
Woody Harrelson, THE MESSENGER
Christian McKay, ME AND ORSON WELLES
Raymond McKinnon, THAT EVENING SUN
Christopher Plummer, THE LAST STATION

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY

COLD SOULS
CRAZY HEART
AMREEKA
PRECIOUS
A SINGLE MAN

BEST FIRST FEATURE

A SINGLE MAN
CRAZY HEAR
EASIER WITH PRACTICE
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
THE MESSENGER

The awards ceremony, usually held on a beach in Los Angeles on the night before the Oscars move to Friday, March 5 this year. For a full list of the nominees, visit the Independent Spirit Awards website.