A couple of years ago, channel-surfing my way through a nearly terminal case of seasonal affective disorder one late winter weekend, I stumbled across what proved to be a very different type of awards show. There were actors, actresses and directors, some from the same movies up for the Academy Awards that were to be given the next night, but they seemed to be in some sort of alternate universe. They were relaxed, dressed normally, spoke their minds and, perhaps strangest of all, seemed to be having fun. This strange show turned out to be the Independent Spirit Awards.
Since then I have made it a point to catch the show each year, not too hard to do since the Independent Film Channel replays the broadcast a number of times and, for the faint of heart, a cleaned up version minus all the naughty bits is played on AMC. The criteria for films considered for the Spirit Awards are uniqueness of vision, provocative subject matter, economy of means and a percentage of the financing must come from independent sources. The cost of the completed film is not to exceed $20 million, a rule the left some top notch otherwise worthy independent films like Babel and Children of Men on the outside looking in.
Instead of the luxurious Kodak Theater the event is held in a tent set up in a parking lot along a Santa Monica beach. Rather than receiving a gold statue, the winner gets a glass pyramid with a suspended shoestring inside to symbolize the sparse budget. Plenty of the same names showed up at both events; nominees doubling their award chances this year included “Little Miss Sunshine” for best picture, best actor Ryan Gosling and Forest Whitaker (although Whitaker was nominated for American Gun in the Spirit Awards and won for Last King of Scotland at the Oscars) and Alan Arkin, who won in both events.
In addition to the setting, another big difference was in the choice of MCs. Ellen DeGeneres was chosen by the Academy because her gentle humor was unlikely to offend anyone, unlike other edgier recent hosts such as Jon Stewart and Chris Rock who received criticism when even their toned-down delivery ruffled feathers. In contrast, the Spirit Awards handed the reins to Sarah Silverman, a strong proponent of the humor of discomfort and perhaps the most non-PC performer this side of Howard Stern. The tone was set in the opening minutes when Silverman explained how much she liked Babybel cheese, really, really liked Babybel cheese.
Interspersed throughout the program were songs parodying the best picture nominees performed in large part by actors not known for their musical talents such as Neil Patrick Harris, Minnie Driver and Rosario Dawson. One stand out was the song for “Half Nelson,” a story of the friendship between a crack-addicted teacher and his student, sung to the tune of “Son of a Preacher Man” … “I’m a crack-headed teacher man, yes I am, yes I am.”
The presenters and award recipients not only dress more casually but they delivered their speeches without the internal five-second delay that seems to inhibit natural expression for many at the Oscar podium. The result is a bit of salty language, but also truer look into the personalities of the celebrities. Those wishing to avoid hearing naughty words can catch the telecast broadcast on AMC, presumably in a much shorter version.
The real purpose of the ceremony is, like the Oscars, to reward excellence in filmmaking. The Spirit Awards offers the added benefit of broadening our awareness of films that don’t ever make it to the local mega cinemaplex, or perhaps even into the video store. I watch the Spirit Awards with a pencil and pad nearby to write down names of interesting films to bug my local rental place to purchase.
Names on my list include “The Dead Girl,” “American Gun,” “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints” (a gritty coming-of-age drama, which I happened to see last night, set in Astoria, Queens, in the1980s featuring superb performances by Spirit nominees Melonie Diaz and Channing Tatum), “Brothers of the Head” and “You’re Gonna Miss Me.”
I’m not sure how long the rebroadcasts of the awards will go on, but in case you can’t catch the program, look here for the nominees, the winners and lots of other useful information. And if you can’t find the film you’re looking for at your local video store, ask. Just tell them not to worry; there will still be plenty of room for six copies of “Saw II” and “Flushed Away” on the shelf.
GantDaily Editor’s Note: This comes from the fingers of guest Video Vault columnist Dan Bogey from Mahaffey. Dan becomes only the second-ever guest columnist for Video Vault, joining Jim Strickland of Curwensville in the honor.
