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December 02, 2008
Indie Spirit Nods
Why is it that the only real surprises at the Indy Spirit nominations (brought to you by Sony Pictures Classics this year) were what films qualified and what odd choices were made by committees to shoehorn things in?
The questions that emerge from this morning's annoucements are, as usual, about the mainstream features that are in the mix and virtually guarenteed to win because of the ISA voting methods, which are open to anyone who joins FIND. As a result, the most popular choices almost always win. Unless Rachel Getting Married pulls off a big surprise, this will be the first year in many with no Oscar BP nominee in the Indie Spirit race.
This year, the big questions are, why is Hurt Locker (a great take on the Iraq War movie and a possible breakout for Summit when it is releaed in Spring 2009) in this year's race? The simple answer is that it screened at Toronto and that is all that is required to be a nominee. But what possible value is there to anyone in having a film that no one will be able to see again until Sundance 2009 in a competition for last year's best?
And that brings up the other big question... Milk is nominated for 4 awards, so it must have qualified... but no Picture or Director. Huh? Is the film being penalized by a committee for being at the center of a FIND controversy or alternatively, is it being left out because Focus doesn't want to be a film that wins Saturday and loses on Sunday?
Of course, that bit of paranoia brings up why Vicky Cristina Barcelona isn't up for BP or Director either.
In the end, I think that the choice was made to make the Indie Spirits as indie as possible with the foreknowledge that any mainstream movie in the big categories will win... which may also explain the exclusion of The Visitor, which already made its money.
Again, all love to Frozen River and Ballast and my beloved Rachel Getting Married. But I would love to get through one ISA nomination list without wondering why the puzzle pieces don't seem to fit right.
Posted by dpoland at December 2, 2008 08:24 AM
Comments
The nominations follow precisely the whole neo-realism/social-realism hard-on the indie community has developed over the past year or so. Boring.
BTW/ Variety had this funny typo: Dustin Lance, "Black Milk
Posted by: mutinyco ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.mcnblogs.com/thehotblog/nav-commenters.gif)
at December 2, 2008 09:14 AM
Isn't it possible to love the acting in Milk without thinking that the direction and production are among the year's best?
Posted by: LYT at December 2, 2008 09:50 AM
Agree, DP. Every year I see less and less great festival/small release films on the list and more and more sorta-indie big films. I mean, I get why they do it, they want the industry to give a shit about the ceremony. It's the whole FIRST(!) mentality. Indie Spirit Awards were the FIRST(!) to nominate "Milk." The FIRST(!) to nominate "Rachel getting Married." Etc.
But for an industry who sounded the death knell for "independent film" a few months ago, there's sure alot of those DOA indie films all over this big industry event. And, I'm glad to see a few people I've met at festivals on there like Barry Jenkins and Lynn Shelton. But on the flipside, I wish those people and other peoples films had better representation within the big award categories.
Posted by: don lewis (was PetalumaFilms) at December 2, 2008 10:02 AM
Yes, Luke... but for individuals more so than committees.
Posted by: David Poland at December 2, 2008 11:16 AM
Odd to me that The Visitor got nominated for practically everything except the categories in which it has the best Oscar nod chances - Actor and Sup. Actress.
Posted by: yancyskancy at December 2, 2008 11:26 AM
Jenkins was nominated for Male Lead. No screenplay nomination for McCarthy though. That's a puzzler.
Posted by: Dignan at December 2, 2008 12:03 PM
Odd, I thought I doubled checked before I wrote that about Jenkins. Guess the eyes are going.
Was Foot Fist Way eligible this year? I know it's dated 2006. Not that Danny McBride had a chance, but that's a heckuva performance.
Posted by: yancyskancy at December 2, 2008 01:08 PM
LYT -
Absolutely. MILK is an actor's showcase. Great work from Hirsch, Franco, Brolin and, of course, Penn. But why Van Sant needs to frame his actor's in extreme close up (and leave Brolin at the bottom of his picture) is beyond me. Also, Tosca and the second appearance of Wheelchair Boy prevent MILK from being truly great (in my humble opinion).
Posted by: TMJ at December 2, 2008 01:53 PM
I'm not quite clear on why it's considered odd that Vicky Cristina Barcelona isn't on the list for Picture or Director except the obvious - that it was a good movie but not Top 5 good. What am I missing?
Also, am I right that Slumdog isn't on here because it's not an American-made film?
Posted by: jeffmcm at December 2, 2008 02:08 PM
As long as Ballast wins, the puzzle will look just fine.
Posted by: sloanish at December 2, 2008 02:16 PM
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