The 20th Annual Independent Spirit Awards

I love the Spirit Awards...it sort of reminds me of what an awards show would be if the "Our Gang" kids ran it in an old barn. It's a loose, fun, anything-goes event that celebrates independent cinema. Minimal pretense and significant silliness, although I miss John Waters not hosting it this year.

"Sideways", a terrific indie movie, won in every category for which it was nominated. Paul Giamatti, who was sadly overlooked for an Oscar nomination, got the recognition he deserves. Thomas Haden Church's performance in Sideways nearly stole the movie, and Sandra Oh, while not nominated, gave a performance that had women literally screaming in appreciation at that scene, which resulted in Jack's bandaged nose.

"The Sideways Sweep"
Best Feature - Sideways
Best Male Lead - Paul Giamatti
Best Supporting Female - Virginia Madsen
Best Supporting Male - Thomas Haden Church
Best Director - Alexander Payne
Best Screenplay - Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor


Cast of "Sideways"

Other significant awards this year went to Catalina Sandino Moreno as Best Female Lead in "Maria Full of Grace", which also won Best First Screenplay; "Garden State" won Best First Feature; and "Mean Creek" won the John Cassavetes Award.

Good show this year. Congrats go to the winners.

And you losers, remember..."it's an honor just to be nominated". Heh...snoogins!