The Santa Monica beach, home to the 2008 Film Independent's Spirit Awards on Feb. 23, is a mere 14 miles from the Kodak Theatre, which hosted its own little film-awards bash (read our Oscar coverage here) the next day. But Hollywood's two celebrations might as well be a million miles apart. Was the Academy treated to Jiminy Glick's inane questioning or a bare-chested Rainn Wilson? We didn't think so...
The Chesty MC
During a barb-filled opening monologue, host Rainn Wilson (of Juno and
NBC's The Office) pledged allegiance to Dennis Hopper, who toughened up the comic via a ride through indie-movie clichés Wilson dubbed Hopper
''the original gangsta of indie cinema, D. Hop,'' while the art-house king
prominently branded the sitcom star as his ''bitch.'' On the short, often unpredictable Spirit Awards, Rainn Wilson said, ''I'm just trying to have a good time. This is such a fun, ramshackle, crazy awards show [and] not as controlled as the Oscars. Things just spiral out of control over the five-hour telecast.''
Tale of two Titans
Presenter Javier Bardem embraced Julian Schnabel, the director who
vaulted the Spanish actor to U.S. stardom with the 2000 film Before
Night Falls. Schnabel snagged the directing award for The Diving Bell
and the Butterfly.
Open Wide!
Sienna Miller can't hide her excitement — the actress was nominated in the
Best Female Lead category for her role as an actress loved by the paparazzi in Interview.
High and 'Mighty'
After Oscar snubbed Angelina Jolie, she snubbed them and made the Spirit
Awards her only stop for the weekend. The nominee (for her turn as
Mariane Pearl in A Mighty Heart) brought along Brad Pitt, a producer on
the film.
Jiminy Flick
Bafoonus Maximus Jiminy Glick chatted with presenter Matt Dillon, and
raved about the actor's work in Saving Private Ryan and Forrest Gump. At least the antics from Martin Short's Glick are intentional. When asked about his sartorial sense, Matt Dillon responded, ''I didn't even get my suit to the dry cleaners. I shoulda worn jeans. Schnabel's wearing pajamas.''
Getting Hitched?
On hand to present the Female Lead award to Juno's Ellen Page, Kate
Beckinsale brought a touch of class — and cumulus-white fancy — to the
show's blue carpet. Fittingly, her next film is called Snow Angels.
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