"The Farewell" tops at the Spirit Awards
Saturday, February 8, 2020 at 10:23PM
by Nathaniel R
And the winners are...
BEST FEATURE The Farewell
Though Lulu Wang's lovely family drama didn't receive any Oscar nominations, it proved the most beloved film at the Independent Spirits...
BEST DIRECTOR The Safdie Brothers for Uncut Gems
Lulu Wang wasn't up for this particular prize but its win here (and elsewhere suggests it was probably running second to The Farewell for the big prize.
BEST FIRST FEATURE Olivia Wilde for Booksmart
Really happy about this win since you know we love this picture. What a strange year Olivia Wilde had being lauded for this one and pilloried for Richard Jewell.
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD – Give Me Liberty
This prize goes to films made for under $500,000. The biggest hit among the nominees was Wild Nights with Emily starring Molly Shannon which grossed just over $500,000. But the prize went to the second most successful, a comedy about a driver with an eclectic group of passengers.
BEST SCREENPLAY Noah Baumbach for Marriage Story
Besting Uncut Gems here and we're so happy for Baumbach because that screenplay is a comic and a dramatic gem. It's two gems, not a single uncut one.
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY Fredrica Bailey & Stefon Bristol See You Yesterday
We appreciate that the Spirits have returned to their roots and aren't just about Oscar players anymore but actual indies.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Jarin Blaschke The Lighthouse
The only one of them with an Oscar nomination but there really wasn't any denying it -- what a great looking picture. We hope Pawel Pogorzelski (MidSommar) and Natasha Braier (Honey Boy) have other rich projects ahead of them.
BEST EDITING Ronald Bronstein & Benny Safdie Uncut Gems
What do people see in this movie? We remain mystified.
BEST FEMALE LEAD Renée Zellweger
Despite a very cool list of amazing underrewarded womn, Renée added yet another trophy to her mantle. It's a truth that the bulk of any large awards-giving population likes biopic performances best. We are very off-consensus this way but we recognize we're in the distinct minority. This was such a great opportunity to recognize underrewarded women which ALL of her competitors were.
BEST MALE LEAD Adam Sandler Uncut Gems
Again, what do people love about this performance? It was agonizingly repetitive and empty in the eyes.
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE Zhao Shuzhen The Farewell
NAI NAI! So pleased about this win. Lulu Wang accepted on her behalf.
BEST SUPPORTING MALE Willem Dafoe The Lighthouse
In a field of nearly all leading men in the "supporting" category (sigh), Dafoe triumphed. We preferred Pattinson from this duet film but understand why awards bodies loved Dafoe's bearded and farting scenery chewing.
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD – Marriage Story.
Well deserved. Still amazed that it wasn't nominated for cast at the SAG Awards.
BEST DOCUMENTARY American Factory
It's expected to also win the Oscar but we're rooting for a Honeyland upset.
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM Parasite South Korea
Parasite has had incredible competitors at every awards show but still deserves all the wins.
BONNIE AWARD – Kelly Reichardt wins a $50,000 grant
PRODUCERS AWARD – Mollye Asher wins a $25,000 grant
SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – Rashaad Ernesto Green, Premature, wins a $25,000 grant
TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD –Nadia Shihab, Jaddoland, wins a $25,000 grant
Reader Comments (15)
I kind of feel about The Farewell the way Nathaniel feels about Uncut Gems. So baffling that it is so beloved. I get the respect for it, but I will never understand why it was an awards magnet (outside of Oscar) for being "THE BEST" of a category. It's fine; that's it.
I'm actually really happy for Sandler, even though I voted for Kelvin (and for Luce across the board). He had a great speech, and I do think he was deserving too.
Big bummer about Zellweger. We can KIND OF understand her winning against what some call weak competition in the big shows (I disagree about it being so weak to justify Renee), but here there was undeniable great competition in films that actually have independent spirit. What a gross steamroll. This is on par with Michelle Williams winning the spirit award for My Week With Marilyn. Vomit.
I'm thrilled with both of the wins for The Lighthouse! Nice to see the Wild at Heart reunion when Dafoe won. I think he was nominated for the spirit award for that film too. Such an insane performance (both Wild at Heart & The Lighthouse, come to think of it).
See You Yesterday's win is embarrassing because that movie was pretty bad. But I agree with Nathaniel that it's always nice when the spirit awards ignore Oscar nominees.
I'm confused as to why Adam Driver was not nominated and did not win.
So pleased for Dafoe very well deserved to boil it down to farting and scenery chewing is unfair.
Good list overall. Am okay with Zellweger. She is the most vulnerable of the acting frontrunners at the Oscars so it's good to give her the award now for all the years of crap endured (literally here and elsewhere) and a triumphant comeback in a role most wanted to write her off at before seeing the film.
@ whunk
Ineligible due to winning the Altman award.
What do people see in "Uncut Gems?" Is it really that hard to read a review and find out? I can understand not liking it, but it shouldn't be difficult to recognize what others see in it given all the writing available.
Wild Nights with Emily did not provide a copy for screening or streaming, unlike all other nominees. I was disappointed because I really wanted to see it.
Nothing about the Gay Men's Chorus presentation singing about "the gayest moments" in film of 2019?
https://mashable.com/video/laura-dern-gay-mens-choir-tribute-spirit-awards/
I am ECSTATIC that THE FAREWELL won Best Feature and Zhao Shuzhen won Best Supporting Actress. It's my favorite film of the year--one of the year's most heartbreaking AND simultaneously one of its funniest. So specific and universal at the same time. An important American film of our time. Anyways, take that Oscars.
As for Zellweger, I don't begrudge her win here or tonight at the Oscars. What I hate is how much she swept the whole season. She was fine, very good even. But to win ALL the awards? No, NO.
@Ryan T: and it’s not even the first time that zellweger won everything either. It’s preposterous.
@Working stiff: Thanks. Had to look up the specifics on that. What a weird rule.
That speech by Adam Sandler was awesome. It's him just being himself but also finally getting some overdue recognition. I hope he does more work like this and he'll get his Oscar nod as long as he stops making shitty comedies.
Chelsea - Shut up.
Wild Nights with Emily was ok...started very well but dragged thru middle, tho I don't remember it being especially long. Molly Shannon is lovely tho.
Laura Dern, Laura Der. I suppose she's a gay icon, ay?