VARIOUS: "Little Miss Sunshine" and "Half Nelson" take spotlight at Spirit Awards; stars predict who will win Oscars

Stars hit the blue carpet at the Spirit Awards on Saturday (February 24), where "Little Miss Sunshine" took top honors. Among those on hand were members of the film's ensemble cast and crew, including Alan Arkin, Paul Dano and co-directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. Arkin, who beat co-star Paul Dano for the Spirit, will also compete for an Oscar, as will "Sunshine" screenwriter Michael Arndt, and 10-year-old title heroine Abigail Breslin. "It's just nice to hear people say good things about the film. I don't know what's going to happen at the Oscars but it's just fun to be in this pageant, it's just kind of crazy," said Dayton. The movie, which revolves around a family's cross-country trip to a preteen girls' beauty pageant, ended up with four awards. The top acting prizes went to Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling and newcomer Shareeka Epps for the drug drama "Half Nelson." Gosling, who will compete for the best actor Oscar for his turn as a drug-addicted high-school teacher, was humble in victory. "The movie is what it is is because we weren't aware of anybody watching us and we weren't thinking that people were actually going to see it so we were just doing it for ourselves. And I think that's when the best work gets done." Other actors making their way down the blue carpet laid out near the beach in Santa Monica were Oscar nominee Djimon Honsou, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Minnie Driver and Angelica Huston. Huston had nothing but praise for Oscar front-runner Helen Mirren. "I think the year has proven it out for her. And not only this queen but also playing Elizabeth I on television, such a extraordinary job she did, so my money is on Helen." Others were equally eager to lay out cash on a favorite. "Martin Scorsese, I think it's looking that way. I think it will be quite strange if he doesn't walk away with anything," said the latest Bond, Daniel Craig. Mexican director Guillermo del Toro, whose "Pan's Labyrinth" is up for best foreign language film on Sunday, exhibited some Eastern cool, when explaining how he had it covered whether he won or lost. "We are writing a haiku that works both ways and that became like a mantra, and now I am supernaturally calm." His cinematographer, Guillermo Navarro, who was to win a Spirit Award later in the day, talked about all the success their joint project had received. "Everyday has been Pan's day for us. It's a movie that has given us so much gratification. I think the most important thing is that the people like it and have seen it and that everyone has done his job." The film's success fell short on Saturday, however, losing out to the conspiracy thriller "Lives of Others" for best foreign film. Its director, Florian Von Donnersmarck, reflected on being honored so far with a Spirit win and an Oscar nod. "I do see it as an honor that I'm nominated for both. I think it's important, what does independent mean. Basically, there is one spirit that shapes that film without interference and I think that it's great that that spirit is recognized both at an independent award and at an award like the Academy Awards. That's a great thing that the lines are becoming blurred." The Spirit Awards, in their 22nd year, honor low-budget American films based on such criteria as original, provocative subject matter and degree of independent financing. There is usually some crossover among nominees for the Spirits and Oscars, but little common ground among the winners because the Oscars generally favor big studio films.

ITN Source | February 28, 2007

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