We’re only a week away from the Nov. 30 announcement of the Film Independent Spirit Award nominees, which always manage to sneak a few pleasant surprises (like The Vicious Kind‘s Adam Scott last year) in with the expected indie hits. So here are three contenders I’m hoping might be recognized along with surefire nominees like The Kids Are All Right, Winter’s Bone, and Blue Valentine.
Best Actor: Dermot Mulroney, Inhale You’ve probably never heard of this drama, which was released last month. The story of an assistant D.A. who travels to dangerous Juarez, Mexico, to buy black-market lungs for his seriously ill daughter, it’s not always easy to watch. But Mulroney (pictured, left) gives a forceful performance as a dad who has run out of options.
Best Supporting Actress: Ann Guilbert, Please Give Just looking at her face (pictured, center) makes me laugh. As Catherine Keener’s grumpy New York City neighbor who just won’t die, the Dick Van Dyke Show veteran simply steals the show. Check out the trailer to see how she turns one word (“Dry”) into a comedic master class.
Best Foreign Film: Animal Kingdom Since it’s Australian, this is the only category where the riveting crime drama is eligible. Just for the mesmerizingly villainous performance of Ben Mendelsohn (pictured, right) alone, David Michod’s twisted family tale deserves a slot.
Ann Guilbert is a great call–talk about an unheralded but wonderfully distinctive performance! Actually Please Give should be recognized in a number of categories, I think, especially writing: it’s a subtle, prickly movie that’s both genuinely funny and has real philosophical depth.
What about “Skirt Day” (“LA JOURNEE DE LA JUPE”) starring Isabelle Adjani? It ran in Los Angeles two months ago. Has this beautiful Caesar award-winning French film was even considered?
I got two words: Dermot Mulroney.
I’m shocked and horrified that you mention Animal Kingdom without mentioning the name ‘Jacki Weaver.’
I agree about Ann Guilbert. Her scene in the back seat of the car was amazing.
Ben Mendelsohn is brilliant, and so is Sullivan Stapelton.
I’ve been talking about Ann Guilbert and her performance since I saw Please Give months ago. Here’s hoping that Spirits and Oscars do this performance justice with a couple of nominations.
I LOVE Dermot Mulroney! It’s definitely time he gets some attention.
Spirit Awards aside, I say that Ben Mendolsohn should be nominated for BSA for an Oscar and so should Jacki Weaver!!!
This is a bit off topic but what happened to the Awards Blog and Film Critics Blog. I don’t like how everything is just mixed together. I wish it would go back to the old way.
Ditto.
Dermot Mulroney is fantastic in Inhale.
Does Outside The Law have any chances? I just saw it and thought it was quite good. – much better than Animal Kingdom
I think Dermot Mulroney deserves a shot, he is amazing in Inhale.
Dermot Mulroney please, it’s about time!!
Dermot is the guy… he’s great in Inhale.