..Gary Dretzka
..Noah Forrest
..Leonard Klady
..R.J. Matson
..David Poland
..Douglas Pratt
..Ray Pride
..Michael Wilmington

March 21, 2003

The Independent Spirit Awards
by Gary Dretzka

___________________________________

SANTA MONICA, Cal. - In the only movie awards ceremony this weekend to include a stroll down the red carpet, Todd Hayne's Far From Heaven walked away from the annual Independent Spirits beach party Saturday with a nearly a clean sweep of top honors.

In his homage to the Technicolor message films of the '50s, Haynes took veteran director Douglas Sirk's cinematic formula and stood it on its head, by adding contemporary comments on racism and sexual tolerance. Saturday, under the Spirits' big top, the Universal Focus release went 5-for-5.

Besides Haynes' award for Best Director, statuettes were handed out to star Julianne Moore and Dennis Quaid, in the supporting category; cinematographer Edward Lachman; and Jody Patton and Christine Vachon for producing the Best Feature. No other picture won multiple awards.

Although the parade past the paparazzi went ahead as planned, the tone of the afternoon's festivities was struck early on, when Elvis Costello warmed up the crowd by asking the musical question, What's So Funny ('bout Peace, Love and Understanding). The song was greeted with loud applause.

While not dwelling on the war in Iraq, master of ceremonies John Waters might inadvertently have hit the nail right on the head, when he quipped, "Saddam Hussein, George Bush ... nothing's going to stop me from getting my gift bag." Anti-war sentiments were expressed briefly, largely without rancor and almost exclusively in the second half of the show.

Several of the presenters and winners offered their wishes for peace and a quick exit from the White House for George Bush. Not surprisingly, Best Documentary winner Michael Moore was the most outspoken.

It's strange to win a prize for a nonfiction film in a time when we have a fictitious president conducting a war for fictitious reasons, Moore said. This is a sad, sick and immoral lesson for the children of Columbine.

Don Cheadle and Dawn Hudson, speaking for Independent Film Project/Los Angeles, challenged audience members to use their independence, spirit and talent to make their concerns known, and not accept the status quo.

Best Screenplay winner Mike White (The Good Girl) echoed that sentiment, Let's use a little of our spirit this year to get Bush out of office.

Gael Garcia Bernal, co-star of Best Foreign Picture Y Tu Mama Tambien, commented, "I come from a country that's always being told what to do. The only way to stop this is (through people like) you."

The only real glitch in the program came when an overly giddy Brittany Murphy, perhaps channeling the speed-freak character she played in Spun, completely bollixed up the reading of the nominees for Best Debut Performance. Far more funny than worrisome, though, the moment probably will live in infamy alongside Ally Sheedy's rambling acceptance speech, in 1999, for her performance in High Art.

Later, Derek Luke, Best Male Lead for Antwone Fisher, brought out the tissues when he dragged his wife on stage with him and handed her his trophy, in gratitude for her faith and support during their four-year marriage. The former Sony gift shop worker added to drama by informing the crowd that, four years ago, he was one of the waiters serving audience members at the Spirits.

Otherwise, the afternoon went by without controversy.

In other categories, Best First Feature went to The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys; Best First Screenplay, to Erin Cressida Wilson, for Secretary; Nia Vardalos, of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, as Best Debut Performance; Emily Mortimer, as Best Supporting Female, for Lovely & Amazing; Best Documentary to Bowling for Columbine; Personal Velocity took the John Cassavetes Award; and special grants went to the producers of Real Women Have Curves, and the directors of Paradox and Love & Diane.