'Wrestler', Rourke Win Independent Spirit Awards

The Wrestler was the big winner at the Independent Spirit Awards, with Mickey Rourke winning the penultimate (and media-created) showdown fellow nominee Sean Penn before tomorrow night's Academy Awards. Darren Aronofsky wasn't even nominated for Best Director, which is kind of surprising, but it won Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Cinematography at the much looser awards celebration, which showcase lower budget films. Aronofsky lost Best Director to Thomas McCarthy for The Visitor, a film that deserves some kind of award. Melissa Leo picked up Best Actress for Frozen River, and Penélope Cruz won in the supporting category for Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Here's the complete list of winners: Best Picture:
The Wrestler Best Director:
Thomas McCarthy - The Visitor Best First Feature:
Synecdoche, New York Charlie Kaufman, director John Cassavetes Award (Best feature made for under $500,000):
In Search of a Midnight Kiss Alex Holdridge, writer-director Best First Screenplay:
Dustin Lance Black - Milk Best Screenplay:
Woody Allen - Vicky Cristina Barcelona Best Female Lead:
Melissa Leo - Frozen River Best Male Lead:
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler Best Supporting Female:
Penélope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona Best Supporting Male:
James Franco - Milk Best Cinematography:
Maryse Alberti - The Wrestler Best Documentary:
Man on Wire Best Foreign Film:
The Class Robert Altman Award (presented for ensemble casting and acting):
Synecdoche, New York Someone to Watch Award:
Lynn Shelton - My Effortless Brilliance Truer Than Fiction Award:
Margaret Brown - The Order of Myths Producers Award:
Heather Rae - Frozen River and Ibid