Independent Spirit Nominee Predictions

Time for my annual post where I predict the Spirit Awards nominees.  Be sure to look for the annual follow up post by John where he makes fun of my predictions.  The important thing to keep in mind is that there’s no point in trying to make these predictions.  There’s no way to be entirely certain which movies are even eligible to be nominated.  And though the Spirit Awards have been trending a little toward Oscar-type movies and big stars, they always seem to fit in at least a few films and performances seemingly from out of nowhere.  At any rate, here’s what I got.  The actual nominees will be announced Tuesday morning by Paula Patton and Octavia Spencer.

Best Picture

12 Years a Slave
August: Osage County
Enough Said
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska

Best Lead Female

Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Julie Delpy, Before Midnight
Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha
Brie Larson, Short Term 12
Robin Weigert, Concussion

Best Lead Male

Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Michael B. Jordan, Fruitvale Station
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Robert Redford, All is Lost

Best Supporting Female

Margo Martindale, August: Osgage County
Lupita N’Yongo, 12 Years a Slave
Octavia Spencer, Fruitvale Station
Something crazy
Something crazy

Best Supporting Male

Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
James Gandolfini, Enough Said
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Something crazy
Something crazy

Best Director

Coen Bros, Inside Llewyn Davis
Nicole Holofcener, Enough Said
Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
Jeff Nichols, Mud
Alexander Payne, Nebraska

Best First Feature

Afternoon Delight, Jill Soloway
Blue Caprice, Alexander Moors
Concussion, Stacie Passon
Fruitvale Station, Ryan Coogler
In a World…, Lake Bell

Top Fives Through October

So this place is dead, huh? I’d say it’s because we aren’t seeing any movies, but that’s no guarantee we’d actually write about them. Also, we’re not seeing any movies.

Jared

1. Gravity
2. In a World…
3. Fast & Furious 6
4. The World’s End
5. Star Trek Into Darkness

Adam

1. Star Trek Into Darkness
2. Fast & Furious 6
3. Gravity
4. Pacific Rim
5. Despicable Me 2

John

1. The Attack
2. Gravity
3. The Place Beyond the Pines
4. Drinking Buddies
5. Captain Phillips

Brian

1. 12 Years a Slave
2. One Direction: This is Us
3. Temptation: Confessions of Marriage Counselor
4. Jewtopia
5. The Canyons