Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations

The Independent Spirit Awards (nicknamed the Indie Spirits) have risen in prominence in the last few years since their inception back in 1984 (the first ceremony took place a year later). These awards often honor a lot of the smaller films that oftentimes don't find a place in the major awards race (Globes-SAG-BAFTA-Oscar), but have been known to honor those that are destined for Oscar glory. They're a nice award because sometimes, by honoring a lesser known nominee, they spark a flame in that particular nominee's campaign. Sometimes it begins and ends with the Spirits, but sometimes, they can find themselves seated at the Oscar ceremony, awaiting their name to be called.

Either way, the Spirits announced their nominations this morning, and Oscar frontrunner 12 Years A Slave led the pack with 7 nominations, with Alexander Payne's Nebraska trailing not too far behind with 6.

Take a look at the list of major nominees (and my thoughts) below (for the full list of nominations and breakdown by studio, you can go here, where Awards Daily's Sasha Stone has done a good job of compiling everything you need to know). The Independent Spirit Award winners will be announced sometime next year during the telecast; the date has yet to be announced)



Best Feature (Award given to the Producer)

• 12 Years A Slave (Producers: Dede Gardner, Anthony Katagas, Jeremy Kleiner, Steve McQueen, Arnon Milchan, Brad Pitt, Bill Pohlad
• All Is Lost (Producers: Neal Dodson, Anna Gerb)
• Frances Ha (Producers: Noah Baumbauch, Scott Rudin, Rodrigo Teixeira, Lila Yacoub)
• Inside Llewyn Davis (Producers: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Scott Rudin)
• Nebraska (Producers: Albert Berger, Ron Yerxa)

I was surprised to see Frances Ha's lone nomination come from this category, and not in the categories I expected it to show up in (Actress or Screenplay). I have a feeling that a lot of prognosticators will predict 12 Years A Slave to walk away with this without any kind of fight whatsoever, but I personally feel as if Nebraska shouldn't be counted out; the Indies obviously have a lot of love for the film, and they like Alexander Payne's films a lot (both Election and Sideways won Best Feature in their respective years). This is also a nice little boost for Inside Llewyn Davis and All Is Lost, 2 films who have been thought of as possibilities for Best Picture, and could ultimately benefit from the expanded Best Picture nomination field. 

Best Director 

• Shane Carruth, Upstream Color 
• J.C. Chandor, All Is Lost
• Steve McQueen, 12 Years A Slave 
• Jeff Nichols,  Mud
• Alexander Payne, Nebraska 

While Best Picture might be more of a fight between 12 Years and Nebraska, I feel as if this is easily McQueen's award. He's the frontrunner for the Oscar, and every other directing prize this season (save for Alfonso Cuaron who wasn't eligible for this ceremony), so look for him to walk away with the trophy here. Nice boost for J.C. Chandor, whose film is earning love outside of Robert Redford's performance, which bodes well for Oscar. 

Best Screenplay 

• Woody Allen, Blue Jasmine 
• Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke & Richard Linklater, Before Midnight
• Nicole Holofcener, Enough Said
• Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, The Spectacular Now
• John Ridley, 12 Years A Slave 

My gut tells me 12 Years A Slave, but my brain is saying "Don't count out Woody". There's a lot of love for Blue Jasmine, and it was a hit at the box office (though not in the way that Midnight In Paris was). Nice notices for the Before Midnight trio, and Nicole Holofcener. Hopefully more notices like this lead to more deserved awards attention. 

Best Female Lead

• Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine 
• Julie Delpy, Before Midnight
• Gaby Hoffmann, Crystal Fairy 
• Brie Larson, Short Term 12
• Shailene Woodley, The Spectacular Now 

This category is notorious for going with the Oscar friendly nominee in recent years (Natalie Portman, Michelle Williams, Jennifer Lawrence) so I think it's safe to say that this is Cate Blanchett's, who is the only surefire Oscar nominee out of the bunch. Brie Larson, besides Blanchett, is the only one I think that could find herself headed for Oscar, as she has received so much attention and praise for her work in Short Term 12. Could this help her nab the "Young Ingenue nominee" slot that Rooney Mara and Jennifer Lawrence grabbed for Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and Winter's Bone? Or will Best Actress stay looking like the 5 veteran actresses bloodbath it's been predicted to be for the last few months?

Best Male Lead 

• Bruce Dern, Nebraska 
• Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years A Slave 
• Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis 
• Michael B. Jordan, Fruitvale Station 
• Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
• Robert Redford, All Is Lost 

Another case where 12 Years goes head to head with Nebraska, and like Best Picture it's unsure which one will edge out. While there is a lot of love for Ejiofor's work, and he benefits from being in the most acclaimed film of the year, Bruce Dern's performance has been garnering so much attention and praise lately; he is campaigning like crazy. McConaughey was always a sure thing, but I don't think it's his to win; the nomination is the reward. Robert Redford and Oscar Isaac can only benefit from being noticed here, while Michael B Jordan has some adrenaline shot back into his seemingly dead campaign, but I'm not sure what that means in terms of Oscar. 

Best Supporting Female 

• Melonie Diaz, Fruitvale Station 
• Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine 
• Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years A Slave 
• Yolonda Ross, Go For Sisters 
• June Squibb, Nebraska 

Octavia Spencer being overlooked for Melonie Diaz does not bode well for her Oscar hopes; that nomination is looking less and less likely to me. June Squibb, on the other hand, is becoming more and more of a sure thing after this notice, and many raves about her work; Oscar loves fiery, entertaining spitfire performances like this (ahem, Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids). And Sally Hawkins getting noticed in what was seen as mainly the Cate Blanchett show bodes well, as Oscar snubbed her back in 2008 for Happy Go Lucky; could they ultimately make amends and reward her here? It doesn't hurt that Hawkins is winning nominations from the Spirits, and if the critics follow, anything is possible. Ultimately, I think this is Nyongo's, the first trophy of many I hope (she's my pick to win it all at the moment).

Best Supporting Male

• Michael Fassbender, 12 Years A Slave 
• Will Forte, Nebraska 
• James Gandolfini, Enough Said 
• Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
• Keith Stanfield, Short Term 12 

Nice surprise for Will Forte (though I think this is a case of a coattail nomination; they obviously love Nebraska), and James Gandolfini. It's going to be between Fassbender and Leto, but I feel like Leto will edge it out, he's got raves and industry support which goes a long long way.