And the Oscar winners have been announced! Congratulations, everyone! Thanks for playing and see you next year.
Okay, actually, these are the Independent Spirit Awards winners, but there’s a lot of overlap with tomorrow’s predicted champions. Traditionally, the Spirit Awards are meant to be a way to counterbalance the Academy’s ardor for more mainstream, bombastic fare. But not this year!
Despite a slate of nominees that included films like Drive, Take Shelter, and Beginners that didn’t receive as much Oscar love as many think they should have, the winners ultimately came down to reflect the Academy’s tastes almost to a T. There are a few differences, such as Michelle Williams, who probably won’t repeat tomorrow night, but it’s basically the same deal as more likely champs Meryl Streep and Viola Davis — a phenomenal actress, a strong performance, a mediocre movie. (Though Shailene Woodley’s Oscar snub probably stings a little less after tonight.)
So here they are.
The 2012 Independent Spirit Award Winners
(Find the nominees here.)
BEST FEATURE: “The Artist”
BEST DIRECTOR: Michel Hazanavicius, “The Artist”
BEST MALE LEAD: Jean Dujardin, “The Artist”
BEST FEMALE LEAD: Michelle Williams, “My Week With Marilyn”
BEST SUPPORTING MALE: Christopher Plummer, “Beginners”
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE: Shailene Woodley, “The Descendants”
BEST FIRST FEATURE: “Margin Call”
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD (Feature Under $500,000): “Pariah”
BEST SCREENPLAY: “The Descendants”
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY: “50/50”
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: “The Artist”
BEST DOCUMENTARY: “The Interrupters”
BEST FOREIGN FILM: “A Separation”
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD: “Margin Call”
REAL NOBODY 