The Gotham awards are the main precursor for the Independent Spirit Awards, with big studio movies not being eligible here, but today they also serve as the official kickoff to the 2014 awards season, since its the first awards body to bestow any nominations. Here's the full list:
Picture
Boyhood
Birdman
Grand Budapest Hotel
Love is Strange
Under the Skin
Actor
Bill Hader - The Skeleton Twins
Ethan Hawke - Boyhood
Oscar Isaac - A Most Violent Year
Michael Keaton - Birdman
Miles Teller - Whiplash
Actress
Patricia Arquette - Boyhood
Gugu Mbatha Raw - Belle
Julianne Moore - Still Alice
Scarlett Johansson - Under the Skin
Mia Wasikowska - Tracks
Documentary
Actress
Citizenfour
Life Itself
Manakamana
Point and Shoot
Breakthrough Actor
Riz Ahmed - Nightcrawler
Joey King - Wish I Was Here
Jenny Slate - Obvious Child
Tessa Thompson - Dear White People
Ella Coltrane - Boyhood
Macon Blair - Blue Ruin
Jury Award for Ensemble: Foxcatcher
So, if there's anything interesting about these early noms, it tells us that Boyhood is undoubtedly the frontrunner in the indie world, which most people assumed would happen months ago. But some nice surprises are the lasting power of movies like Under the Skin and The Grand Budapest Hotel, which many assumed would be overlooked at the end of the year. And the snub of Foxcatcher, aside from the ensemble prize, may be telling as well, fueling the early rumors that that film might be too cold and offputting for people to embrace. But it's early days yet, and this particular group is mostly influential for the Spirits, like I said earlier. The Gothams are handed out on Monday, Dec 1st.
