My peers have pretty much covered everything already, but here are some quick notes on what I think about today's nominations with the full list of nominations below.
First Reformed, If Beale Street Could Talk and the Oscar Best Picture
"First Reformed" is fantastic. I think 3 of its Indie Spirit nominations could easily repeat at the Oscars. Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Screenplay. It's the directing nomination for Paul Schrader that gives me pause. Although 4 is the magic number. Off the top of my head I can't think of any Best Picture Oscar nominees that had a total of 3 nominations.
"Room" had 4. "District 9" had 4. "Call Me By Your Name" had 4. On the lesser end you had "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" with 2.
If I had to pick which film will win big at the Indie Spirits today, I would say "First Reformed." Although “Eighth Grade” also has a chance.
Giving it a run for its money is "If Beale Street Could Talk." I found the film to be beautiful, but I don't have a strong feeling that it's going to push through to Best Picture on Oscar night. If I had to guess today, I would say it will be lucky to get a BP nomination.
"Roma" and "A Star is Born," arguably our frontrunners for the Best Picture Oscar were neither eligible for the Best Feature Spirit Award, which makes this year a bit different than the past few years. "Get Out" and "Boyhood" won the "consolation" prize, while "Spotlight" and "Moonlight" won both the Oscar and the Indie Spirit.
Unless I am completely wrong here, the Indie Spirits will be rewarding a Best Film that won't be a serious Oscar contender for BP.
Melissa McCarthy
People seem a bit shocked that Melissa McCarthy didn't get in for "Can You Ever Forgive Me." It's disappointing, but I don't think it's a big deal. The Spirits like to honor and champion true independents in the acting categories, hence Regina Hall (Support the Girls), Helena Howard (Madeline's Madeline) and Carey Mulligan (Wildlife). I still think McCarthy is on her way to an Oscar nomination.
Hereditary and Leave No Trace
"Hereditary" and "Leave No Trace"...two films I did not care for are certainly in the conversation.
Does this mean they will be Oscar contenders? I'm not sure. Had you asked me before today's announcement, I would've told you that "Leave No Trace" only had a shot at Adapted Screenplay, which it wasn't even nominated for here.
It did however get multiple other nominations, including Best Feature, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress.
"Hereditary" didn't make Best Feature, but did get in for Best Female Lead and Best First Feature. My biggest issue with the film is its first time director. I think Collette is WAY overrated giving an overcooked performance that could have been better with a more experienced director. Clearly the nominating committee disagrees with me.
Is anyone going to listen to me about this? Doubtful. She also got a Gotham nomination, so the indies are behind her. I'm beginning to think she might be recognized by SAG as well...leading right into Oscar.
Suspiria
"Suspiria" is one of my favorite films of the year, vying for the top spot with "Roma" and "A Star is Born," but it simply isn't for everyone. I'm so happy they are honoring it with a special award and also nominated last year's Cinematography winner, Sayombhu Mukdeeprom.
Here is the complete list of nominations.
Best Feature
EIGHTH GRADE
FIRST REFORMED
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK
LEAVE NO TRACE
YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE
Best Director
Debra Granik, LEAVE NO TRACE
Barry Jenkins, IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK
Tamara Jenkins, PRIVATE LIFE
Lynne Ramsay, YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE
Paul Schrader, FIRST REFORMED
Best First Feature
HEREDITARY
SORRY TO BOTHER YOU
THE TALE
WE THE ANIMALS
WILDLIFE
Best Female Lead
Glenn Close, THE WIFE
Toni Collette, HEREDITARY
Elsie Fisher, EIGHTH GRADE
Regina Hall, SUPPORT THE GIRLS
Helena Howard, MADELINE’S MADELINE
Carey Mulligan, WILDLIFE
Best Male Lead
John Cho, SEARCHING
Daveed Diggs, BLINDSPOTTING
Ethan Hawke, FIRST REFORMED
Christian Malheiros, SÓCRATES
Joaquin Phoenix, YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE
Best Supporting Female
Kayli Carter, PRIVATE LIFE
Tyne Daly, A BREAD FACTORY
Regina King, IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK
Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie, LEAVE NO TRACE
J. Smith-Cameron, NANCY
Best Supporting Male
Raúl Castillo, WE THE ANIMALS
Adam Driver, BLACKKKLANSMAN
Richard E. Grant, CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?
Josh Hamilton, EIGHTH GRADE
John David Washington, MONSTERS AND MEN
Best Screenplay
Richard Glatzer (Writer/Story By), Rebecca Lenkiewicz & Wash Westmoreland, COLETTE
Nicole Holofcener & Jeff Whitty, CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?
Tamara Jenkins, PRIVATE LIFE
Boots Riley, SORRY TO BOTHER YOU
Paul Schrader FIRST REFORMED
Best First Screenplay
Bo Burnham, EIGHTH GRADE
Christina Choe, NANCY
Cory Finley, THOROUGHBREDS
Jennifer Fox, THE TALE
Quinn Shephard (Writer/Story By) and Laurie Shephard (Story By), BLAME
Best Cinematography
Ashley Connor, MADELINE’S MADELINE
Diego Garcia, WILDLIFE
Benjamin Loeb, MANDY
Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, SUSPIRIA
Zak Mulligan, WE THE ANIMALS
Best Editing
Joe Bini, YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE
Keiko Deguchi, Brian A. Kates & Jeremiah Zagar, WE THE ANIMALS
Luke Dunkley, Nick Fenton, Chris Gill & Julian Hart, AMERICAN ANIMALS
Anne Fabini, Alex Hall and Gary Levy, THE TALE
Nick Houy, MID90S
John Cassavetes Award
A BREAD FACTORY
EN EL SÉPTIMO DÍA
NEVER GOIN’ BACK
SÓCRATES
THUNDER ROAD
Robert Altman Award
SUSPIRIA
Best Documentary
HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING
MINDING THE GAP
OF FATHERS AND SONS
ON HER SHOULDERS
SHIRKERS
WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?
Best International Film
BURNING (South Korea)
THE FAVOURITE (United Kingdom)
HAPPY AS LAZZARO (Italy)
ROMA (Mexico)
SHOPLIFTERS (Japan)
Piaget Producers Award
Jonathan Duffy and Kelly Williams
Gabrielle Nadig
Shrihari Sathe
Someone to Watch Award
Alex Moratto, SÓCRATES
Ioana Uricaru, LEMONADE
Jeremiah Zagar, WE THE ANIMALS
Truer Than Fiction Award
Alexandria Bombach, ON HER SHOULDERS
Bing Liu, MINDING THE GAP
RaMell Ross, HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING
Annual Bonnie Award
Debra Granik
Tamara Jenkins
Karyn Kusama
Debra Granik
Tamara Jenkins
Karyn Kusama
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