For the first time since I started this blog, a major awards show has announced its nominees. Of course, I happen to be a card carrying member of Film Independent, so I get to vote in them, so I take a personal interest in what exactly gets nominated. 

Here are 2011's nominees:

Best Feature

The Artist

Beginners

The Descendants

Drive

50/50

Take Shelter

Until I see The Artist, I'm not saying anything about it. 

Best Female Lead

Lauren Ambrose, Think of Me

Rachael Harris, Natural Selection

Adepero Oduye, Pariah

Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene

Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

Big Shockers here, but so glad this will not mirror the Oscars' picks like last year. Michelle or Elizabeth? Hmmmm.....

Best Male Lead

Demián Bichir, A Better Life

Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Ryan Gosling, Drive

Woody Harrelson, Rampart

Michael Shannon, Take Shelter

I must say it's nice to see Ryan and Michelle come back after they snubbed Blue Valentine last year. Super happy Demian Bichir got nominated.  Need to see Rampart still.

Best Supporting Female

Jessica Chastain, Take Shelter

Anjelica Huston, 50/50

Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs

Harmony Santana, Gun Hill Road

Shailene Woodley, The Descendants

Janet McTeer but not Glenn Close....hmmmmm Need to see Gun Hill Road.

Best Supporting Male

Albert Brooks, Drive

John Hawkes, Martha Marcy May Marlene

Christopher Plummer, Beginners

John C. Reilly, Cedar Rapids

Corey Stoll, Midnight in Paris

John C. Reilly?! For Cedar Rapids?! That's all I'm saying now.

Best Director

Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

Mike Mills, Beginners

Jeff Nichols, Take Shelter

Alexander Payne, The Descendants

Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive

No surprises here. Wish I could see The Artist....right now...

Best Screenplay

Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

Mike Mills, Beginners

Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, The Descendants

Joseph Cedar, Footnote

Tom McCarthy, Win Win

Want to see Footnote. Kudos on nominating a foreign film for this.

Best First Screenplay

Mike Cahill & Brit Marling, Another Earth

Phil Johnston, Cedar Rapids

Will Reiser, 50/50

J.C. Chandor, Margin Call

Patrick deWitt, Terri

Tough call here. Surprised at the inclusion of comedy. Gotta think about this one for a while.

Best First Feature

Another Earth

In the Family

Margin Call

Martha Marcy May Marlene

Natural Selection

Must see Natural Selection and In the Family, but will probably vote for Martha Marcy May Marlene either way...

John Cassavetes Award (for features under $500,000)

Bellflower

Circumstance

The Dynamiter

Hello Lonesome

Pariah

Don't even start with me on this one. Guessing Pariah, but haven't seen almost any of these.

Best Documentary

An African Election

Bill Cunningham New York

The Interrupters

The Redemption of General Butt Naked

We Were Here

Haven't seen any of them. Shame on me.

Best Cinematography

The Artist

Bellflower

The Dynamiter

Midnight in Paris

The Off Hours

Need to see more. Bellflower was pretty, though...

Best International Film

The Kid With A Bike

Melancholia

A Separation

Shame

Tyrannosaur

Probably my favorite category this year. Too tough to call right now.

Robert Altman Award (for ensemble cast): Margin Call 

You just can't go wrong with Jeremy Irons and Kevin Spacey...just can't...

Piaget Producers Award

Chad Burris, Mosquita y Mari

Sophia Lin, Take Shelter

Josh Mond, Martha Marcy May Marlene

Glad I don't have to vote in this.

I'm hoping to be in Santa Monica this late February...about the 26th or so..