Awards Season - Wrestler Pins Competition

February 22, 2009

The Wrestler swept the Independent Spirit Award winning all three categories it was up for, including the most

The categories and nominations are...

BEST FEATURE

• The Wrestler

BEST DIRECTOR

• Tom McCarthy for The Visitor

BEST FIRST FEATURE

• Synecdoche, New York

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
(Given to the best feature made for under $500,000)

• In Search of a Midnight Kiss

BEST SCREENPLAY

• Woody Allen for Vicky Cristina Barcelona

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY

• Dustin Lance Black for Milk

BEST FEMALE LEAD

• Melissa Leo for Frozen River

BEST MALE LEAD

• Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler

BEST SUPPORTING MALE

• James Franco for Milk

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE

• Penélope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona

BEST DOCUMENTARY

• Man on Wire

BEST FOREIGN FILM

• The Class (France)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

• The Wrestler

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD (Given to one film's director, casting director and ensemble cast)

• Synecdoche, New York

Acura Someone to Watch Award

• Lynn Shelton for My Effortless Brilliance

Lacoste Truer Than Fiction Award is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant attention.

• Margaret Brown for The Order of Myths

Piaget Producers Award honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, and vision required to produce quality, independent films.

• Heather Rae for Frozen River

Notes and Reactions...

• Not a lot of repeat winners last night with The Wrestler leading the way with just three awards.
• Frozen River, Milk, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona all earned two awards each.
• Mickey Rourke won for The Wrestler going up against Sean Penn for Milk, which could be a good omen for the Oscars later tonight.
• Penélope Cruz
winning for Vicky Cristina Barcelona could also be a sign, but I still think that category is too close to call, but Penélope Cruz is not my pick to win.

- C.S.Strowbridge

Filed under: Awards Season, Milk, The Wrestler, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, The Visitor, Entre les murs, Synecdoche, New York, Man on Wire, Frozen River, In Search of a Midnight Kiss, The Order of Myths