Independent Spirit Awards independently declare Birdman and Boyhood pretty great
The day before the Academy indulged in more predictable, mainstream fare like handing out awards to Birdman, Patricia Arquette, J.K. Simmons, and Julianne Moore—all while its host indulged in a Birdman spoof that also featured Whiplash’s Miles Teller—the Independent Spirit Awards challenged the norm by handing out awards to Birdman, Patricia Arquette, J.K. Simmons, and Julianne Moore, all while its host indulged in a Birdman spoof that also featured Whiplash’s Miles Teller. Except this one starred Fred Armisen, so it was in a far more indie sort of way. He had glasses.
Yes, on Saturday afternoon, Hollywood took a much-needed breather before the Oscars with a nice, relaxing awards ceremony, gathering in a large tent to drink some tequila and honor the independent films that—as is increasingly the case—the Academy was already honoring anyway. But besides Armisen and Kristen Bell’s quirkiness, the relaxed dress code, and the lack of John Travolta doing normal, totally conventional things to women’s faces, there were a few other divergences between the two.
Most notably, Boyhood and Birdman essentially split the night, with the latter taking Best Feature while Richard Linklater won for directing. Michael Keaton edged out Eddie Redmayne. Inherent Vice, Nightcrawler, and Dear White People took home some awards. Special honors recognizing true independence were handed out by major brands like Lenscrafters and Kiehl’s. Everything else was pretty much the same, though—only a little drunker.
Here are the winners, in one of the few remaining times you’ll see these titles and names arranged in list form this season. Print it out and tattoo it on your heart, so that you may always remember the year in cinema and in cutting and pasting.
Best Feature
Birdman
Best Director
Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Best Male Lead
Michael Keaton, Birdman
Best Female Lead
Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Best Supporting Female
Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Best Supporting Male
J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
Best Screenplay
Dan Gilroy, Nightcrawler
Best Documentary
Citizenfour
Best International Film
Ida
Best First Feature
Dan Gilroy, Nightcrawler
Best First Screenplay
Justin Simien, Dear White People
Best Editing
Tom Cross, Whiplash
Best Cinematography
Emmanuel Lubezki, Birdman
Robert Altman Award
Inherent Vice
John Cassavetes Award
Land Ho!
Special Distinction Award
Foxcatcher
Lenscrafters Truer Than Fiction Award
The Kill Team
Piaget Producers Award
Chris Ohlson, Kumiko The Treasure Hunter
Kiehl’s Someone To Watch Award
Rania Attieh & Daniel Garcia, H.