The movie starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper wins Best Feature, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Female Lead.
- Feb 24, 2013
AceShowbiz - "Silver Linings Playbook" won big at this year's Independent Spirit Awards which was held in a luncheon event in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica, Calif. The romantic comedy-drama movie grabbed a total of four gongs including top honor, Best Feature, beating strong contender "Beasts of the Southern Wild".
"This is unexpected. 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' is a fantastic film and I truly thought it was going to win, but this is a great surprise," said producer Donna Gigliotti when accepting the award. "We were sure we weren't going to win today and we're sure we're not going to win tomorrow," added fellow producer Bruce Cohen.
David O. Russell who helmed the movie and wrote the script took home Best Director and Best Screenplay. "Benh Zeitlin is a young man, so Benh Zeitlin will be back," the moviemaker said in his acceptance speech when collecting his Best Director prize which he won over the "Beasts of the Southern Wild" helmer.
When he accepted Best Screenplay, Russell said his son who has bipolar disorder was inspiration for the movie. Referring to his 1994 win for "Spanking the Money", he said, "The last time I held one of these was 19 years ago for best screenplay and best first feature and my son was one year old. Matthew's here today and he gave me this movie."
Jennifer Lawrence won Best Female Lead for her role as Bradley Cooper's on-screen love interest Tiffany Maxwell. Thanking her director, co-star and studio honcho Harvey Weinstein, the movie beauty said on stage, "I love doing independent film. That's why I do what I do. I love that feeling. I mean, I'd rather be warm."
Matthew McConaughey also gave a pro-indie acceptance speech when winning Best Supporting Male for his stripper role in "Magic Mike". He said, "The vitality you get from not having enough money and not having enough time� that's what I love about independent films." "I had to take my pants off to win trophies," he sang. "I had to drop my drawers off to win an award."
John Hawkes won Best male Lead for his portrayal of late disabled journalist and poet Mark O'Brien in "The Sessions". He said to the star-studded crowd at the event, "Mark O'Brien said as a disabled man he felt invisible to people. I hope this film can change that a little bit and we all see each other a little more."
"The Invisible War" which revolves around rape and sexual abuse in the US military won Best Documentary. In an emotional speech, producer Amy Ziering said, "This award says to our service members - you are heard, you are not alone and you are no longer invisible."
Oscar favorite "Amour" was named Best International Film. "I feel wonderful, it comes as a complete surprise," director Michael Haneke gushed. "No-one would think a film dealing with ageing and death (would do so well)."
- Best Feature: "Silver Linings Playbook"
- Best Director: David O. Russell - "Silver Linings Playbook"
- Best Screenplay: David O. Russell - "Silver Linings Playbook"
- Best Female Lead: Jennifer Lawrence - "Silver Linings Playbook"
- Best Male Lead: John Hawkes - "The Sessions"
- Best Supporting Female: Helen Hunt - "The Sessions"
- Best Supporting Male: Matthew McConaughey - "Magic Mike"
- Best First Feature: "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"
- Best First Screenplay: Derek Connolly - "Safety Not Guaranteed"
- John Cassavetes Awards: "Middle of Nowhere"
- Best Cinematography: Ben Richardson - "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
- Best Documentary: "The Invisible War"
- Best International Film: "Amour"
- Piaget Producers Award: "Stones in the Sun" - Mynette Louie
- Someone to Watch Award: "Gimme the Loot" - Adam Leon
- Truer than Fiction Award: "The Waiting Room" - Peter Nicks
- Robert Altman Award: "Starlet"
