The road comedy "Little Miss Sunshine," the gem of 2006, won the top prize at the Spirit Awards on Saturday night and is considered a serious best picture contender at Sunday's Academy Awards. I'm so glad to see that the co-directors, the husband-and-wife team of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (pictured, right), won as well. The were nominated for the DGA prize but somehow passed over for an Oscar nod. But on Oscar morning, they gave interviews to reporters, including me, anyway. And they were funny and so happy for the other Oscar nods. Class acts. Screenwriter Michael Arndt took the Spirit for best first screenplay and Alan Arkin won for his supporting role as a junkie grandfather. Both are up for Oscars as is Abigial Breslin for supporting actress.
The top acting prizes went to Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling and newcomer Shareeka Epps for the drug drama "Half Nelson." Oscar-winner Frances McDormand won a Spirit for her supporting turn in the suburban saga "Friends With Money." (She was superb. Catching this little-seen movie is worth it just for McDormand alone). The screenplay Spirit went to Jason Reitman, the writer/director of the smoking satire "Thank You For Smoking."
"Little Miss Sunshine" and "Half Nelson" led the contenders with five nominations each.