Independent Spirit Awards Nominations Announced

Some would say that it's time for the final countdown but I will say it's time to get a bit enthusiastic. After all, we're here to talk about the 27th Annual Independent Spirit Awards, not Oscar night! Still, I like nominations, they usually (and not always) show us what's best in independent film at this moment, so what can I tell you guys, sit down and enjoy the full list of nominations for Spirit! I'm sure you're not surprised at all. We all know that The Artist made a big-boom so no wonder this movie got five nominations including Best Feature, Best Director, Best Male Lead, Best Cinematography and Best Screenplay. That's nice, except The Artist isn't an independent movie(!?). Take Shelter on the other hand reached the same number of nominations, while Drive, 50/50, Beginners and The Descendants all share nominations for probably the most exciting category – Best Feature. I'm also interested in Best Male Lead category where we have Woody Harrelson nominated for his bad cop role in Rampart and Ryan Gosling for Drive, as well as Demian Bichir, Jean Dujardin and Michael Shannon. Who should win, Harrelson or Gosling? Hard to decide, but when it comes to Best Female category, I definitely think Elizabeth Olsen is the lucky winner. Anyway, winners will be announced at the Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, February 25th, 2012 and until then – let the online free bets start! Pick your favorite category and bet with me guys! Here's the full list of nominees: 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 Best Supporting Female Jessica Chastain – Take Shelter Angelica Huston – 50/50 Janet McTeer – Albert Nobbs Harmony Santana – Gun Hill Road Shaileen Woodley – The Descendants John Cassavettes Award Bellflower Circumstance Hello Lonesome Pariah The Dynamiter Best Documentary An African Election Bill Cunningham New York The Interrupters The Redemption of General Butt Naked We Were Here Best International Film A Separation Melancholia Shame The Kid With A Bike Tyrannosaur Best Cinematography Joel Hodge – Bellflower Benjamin Kuh-Sulk – The Off Hours Darius Khondji – Midnight In Paris Guillaume Shiffman – The Artist Jeffrey Waldron – The Dynamiter Best Screenplay Joseph Cedar – Footnote Michel Hazanivicius – The Artist Tom McCarthy – Win Win Mike Mills – Beginners Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon & Jim Rash – The Descendants Best First Screenplay Mike Cahill & Brit Marling – Another Earth J.C. Chandor – Margin Call Patreck DeWitt – Terri Phil Johnston – Cedar Rapids Will Reiser – 50/50 Truer Than Fiction Award Heather Courtney Danfung Dennis Alma Har'El Piaget Producers Award Chad Burris Sophia Lin Josh Mond Someone To Watch Simon Arthur Mark Jackson Nicholas Ozeki Robert Altman Award – Margin Call