Darren Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler” walked away three trophies at today’s Independent Spirit Awards, including top honors for Best Actor (Mickey Rourke) and Best Feature.
In his greatest acceptance speech of the season, Rourke seemed fully uninhibited, almost as if he said, “Screw it, ballots are in,” and he cut loose. The tough guy thing poked through here and there as well as a lot of humorous forgetfulness. (He thanked Searchlight honcho Peter Rice and Rice’s “boss, Jim Jimanopoulos, or something like that.” Of course he meant Fox studio chief Jim Gianopoulos). But mostly, it was expletive-laden (like the Spirits like), raunchy and overall, still strangely endearing.
Rourke briefly dedicated the award to recently deceased pet chihuahua Loki, of course, in a choked-up moment that seemed to beautifully contrast with the rest of the rant. He held the mic like a rock star might, pushing it away during the applause moments and bringing it back to his lips to finish his thoughts. He also dedicated a solid 60 seconds to his friend Eric Roberts. “Whatever he did 15, 20 years ago should be forgiven,” Rourke said. “Eric Roberts is the fucking man and he deserves a second chance. I wish there’d be one God damned filmmaker in this room that’d let him fly because the man is something else.”
Melissa Leo’s speech in acceptance of the lead actress award — not so much. She rambled, she seemed self-involved, overly dramatic, pompous…let’s just say it’s probably a good thing she hasn’t accepted too many awards publicly this year because I think it would have damaged her Oscar chances. That’s just me, but it’s a hell of a performance and justly rewarded tonight.
“Milk” won two trophies early on, James Franco taking down a win in the Best Supporting Actor category and Dustin Lance Black’s first screenplay award. “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” also secured a pair: Best Screenplay for Woody Allen and Best Supporting Actress for Penelope Cruz.
Tom McCarthy won the Best Director prize despite his film “The Visitor” not showing up in the Best Feature category, while Charlie Kaufman took home the Best First Feature prize for the exceptional “Synecdoche, New York,” which also won the pre-announced Robert Altman Award.
(More, plus the full list of winners after the jump.)
Laurent Cantet’s “The Class” won Best Foreign Film while Oscar frontrunner “Man on Wire” won Best Documentary. “The Wrestler”‘s third prize was a somewhat surprising but absolutely deserved win in the Best Cinematography category for Maryse Alberti.
The show was a swift affair, clocking in right at the two-hour mark, but that’s what it’s built to do. Slap-dash, no commercial breaks, weird musical numbers for each Best Feature nominee, just a chance to unwind the Saturday before the Oscars. And if they happen to do what their mission statement dictates: reward the best in independent film — then all is well. Sometimes it doesn’t happen, but with a nicely spread out slate of winners this year, I think IFP accomplished their goal.
Best Feature: “The Wrestler”
Best Director: Tom McCarthy, “The Visitor”
Best Male Lead: Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”
Best Female Lead: Melissa Leo, “Frozen River”
Best Supporting Male: James Franco, “Milk”
Best Supporting Female: Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Best Screenplay: “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Best Cinematography: “The Wrestler”
Best First Feature: “Synecdoche, New York”
Best First Screenplay: “Milk”
Best Foreign Film: “The Class”
Best Documentary: “Man on Wire”
Robert Altman Award: “Synecdoche, New York”
John Cassavetes Award: “In Search of a Midnight Kiss”
Lacoste Truer Than Fiction Award: Margaret Brown, “The Order of Myths”
Piaget Producers Award: Heather Rae, “Frozen River”
Someone to Watch Award: Lynn Shelton, “My Effortless Brilliance”
Comments
16 responses to “‘The Wrestler’ wins big at the Indie Spirits”
Melissa Leo doesn’t know how to talk. Another proof: her interview on The View a week ago. She sounded so arrogant.
Glad to see Franco win.
And yes, as good as Leo may have been, God, she’s awful in person.
Monkey wrench. Is this enough to sway those on Rourke to Penn? What to do what to do…. It’s a great race. On one hand you have the darn near lock in being nominated for a Biopic picture that is also up for Best Picture vs. the snowballing effect of the great small film that just keeps growing in popularity and praise. Despite Mickey winning here I just won’t be able to forgive myself for switching to a guy that just won an Oscar in 2003. Win or lose… I’m still on the Mickey train.
I’m glad to see the love spread across several films. I want to see this “terrible” speech by Leo. At the BFCAs she was a little erratic when she presented the award for Best Documentary with Marisa Tomei.
Leo’s speech was fine. She was so grateful and moved by her film’s recognition. I didn’t find her “self-involved” or “pompous.”
Then you saw a completely different speech than I did.
I’m glad to see James Franco get some love for what I think is a wonderful performance, he gave in Milk.
Mickey Rourke could take a crap on the stage and people would swoon it seems.
That’s not hyperbolic in the slightest.
Didn’t Leo say in one of her recent interviews that she has NEVER received a negative review? And that everyone has always loved her so she wasnt surprised about getting nominated?
She seems to really be in love with herself.
what did eric roberts do 15, 20 years ago?
I have to disagree with you Kris. I thought Leo was authentic and emotional. She isn’t as good as Rourke, obviously, but she was better than Franco.
Also, while the Independent Spirit Awards often award films I liked more than the Oscars, which they did this year, they do pick some awful movies. Savage Grace, The Take, and Towelhead are painful to watch.
anthony, she said that and that was imo kind of arrogant.
I didn’t find anything wrong with Leo’s speech. She seemed sincere and happy and thanked everyone, though she forgot the young male actor who played her son. She was also crying when the producer got an award. I think I’ll restrain my comments on Rourke’s speech.
I saw THE POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE recently; maybe it was their characters, but Mickey Rourke and Eric Roberts are like a contrast in acting styles.
For what it’s worth, Eric Roberts had a significant role in the biggest movie of 2008. (So did Anthony Michael Hall, but I digress.) It would be nice to see Roberts in his own comeback starring vehicle, Oscar nom or not.