The acclaimed Harlem-set drama “Precious,” as expected, led nominations yesterday for the Independent Spirit Awards — but its five nods tied with a surprisingly strong showing by a dark horse contender, “The Last Station.”
The latter, a dramedy set in 1915 Russia, got a major Oscar boost with best actress nominations for Helen Mirren, as novelist Leo Tolstoy’s wife; Christopher Plummer (best supporting actor) as Tolstoy; director and screenplay (both for Michael Hoffman) and best picture.
“Precious,” already considered a strong Oscar contender, was nominated for best picture, best director (Lee Daniels), best actress (Gabourey Sidibe as a sexually abused teen), best supporting actress (Mo’Nique as her mother) and best first screenplay (Geoffrey Fletcher).
The other best picture nominees were the romantic comedy “(500) Days of Summer” and a pair of immigrant sagas, “Amreeka” and “Sin Nombre.”
Notably missing from the nominees was the Iraq war drama “The Hurt Locker,” nominated last year at Film Independent’s awards after appearing at the Toronto International Film Festival, months before its theatrical release this spring.
“The Hurt Locker,” another leading contender for the Best Picture Oscar, won the top prize at the Gotham Awards, the East Coast version of the Indie Spirits, Monday night.
The other best actress nominees are Maria Bello (“Downloading Nancy”), Gwyneth Paltrow (“Two Lovers”) and Nisreen Faour (“Amreeka”). Nominated for best actor were Jeff Bridges (“Crazy Heart”), Colin Firth (“A Single Man”), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (“(500) Days of Summer”), Souleymane Sy Savane (“Goodbye Solo”) and Adam Scott (“The Vicious Kind”).