Todd Haynes

Okay, so maybe not all of us understood Todd Haynes' quirky tribute to Bob Dylan I'm Not There (The Observer's Andrew Sarris: "I confess. I was bored and confused most of the time"), but his "unique vision" is just what makes it an indie movie. That's why Mr. Haynes movie the pack of indie movies with four nominations and one honorary award for the 22nd annual Film Independent's Spirit Awards. I'm Not There nabbed nods for best feature, director, supporting male for Marcus Carl Franklin and supporting actress for Cate Blanchett, as well as the inaugural Robert Altman Award, which honors a film's director, casting director and ensemble cast.

As predicted Julian Schnabel's The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Sarris: Conscious life itself, even at its most extremely limited parameters, has never been so richly ennobled on the screen as it is here.) and Jason Reitman's Juno (one of Sara Vilkomerson's Nine for November and December) each picked up four nominations, including best picture and director. Tamara Jenkins' The Savages also nabbed four nominations, including best screenplay and best male lead for Philip Seymour Hoffman. We're excited for that one!

Zach Braff and Lisa Kudrow announced the nominees Tuesday morning from the Sofitel Hotel in Los Angeles this morning.

Winners will be announced on Feb. 23, the day before the Academy Awards.

Full list of nominees after the jump.

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Director Todd Haynes’ latest project, I’m Not There, an Indie about the life of Bob Dylan, has exceeded expectations at the box office. During its limited, five-day release, the film grossed over a million bucks, and the Oscar buzz has already begun. (Namely, industry insiders and critics have been alight over a winning performance from Cate Blanchett, who plays Mr. Dylan as “Jude.”) Mr. Haynes, 46, recently sat down with the Huffington Post and waxed on his $20 million flick.  read more »

Where’s Dylan in I’m Not There?  read more »

Hold your nose, fellow citizens! For some reason, talented indie directing trio Wes Anderson, Noah Baumbach and Todd Haynes are each presenting stinkers this year. Somebody bring me a poultice!  read more »

Todd Haynes' Far from Heaven , from his own screenplay, is well worth seeing for its visual approxim  read more »

Style, substance and originality, too? In 2002?  read more »