So today we get one of the first markers in the upcoming Oscar race with the announcement of the 2011 Independent Spirit Award nominees. These can sometimes be an indicator of things to come, giving a clue as to which smaller movies and performances will make the jump to the big dance (such was the case with BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN in 2005). Other times…not so much (FAR FROM HEAVEN in 2002).

WINTER’S BONE showed up well, and led the way with 7 nominations.

The nominations for best Picture went like so:

127 HOURS
BLACK SWAN
GREENBERG
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
WINTER’S BONE

Here’s my only question – are 127 HOURS, BLACK SWAN, and KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT really “independent”? I mean they qualify in the fact that all three were made for less than $20M. But especially with the first two being backed by an indie arm of a major studio (Fox Searchlight), don’t they seem a little too mainstream?

On the whole though, some great films and performances have been highlighted. Likewise this has to be good news for the Oscar odds of WINTER’S BONE, BLACK SWAN, 127 HOURS and KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT. The full nominee list is down below.

BEST DIRECTOR
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
Danny Boyle, 127 Hours
Lisa Cholodenko, The Kids Are All Right
Debra Granik, Winter’s Bone
John Cameron Mitchell, Rabbit Hole

BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to the director and producer)
Everything Strange and New
Get Low
The Last Exorcism
Night Catches Us
Tiny Furniture

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
(Given to the best feature made for under $500,000; award given to the writer, director, and producer)
Daddy Longlegs
The Exploding Girl
Lbs.
Lovers of Hate
Obsedila

BEST SCREENPLAY
Stuart Blumberg, Lisa Cholodenko, The Kids Are All Right
Debra Granik, Anne Rosellini, Winter’s Bone
Nicole Holofcener, Please Give
David Lindsay-Abaire, Rabbit Hole
Todd Solondz, Life During Wartime

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Diane Bell, Obselidia
Lena Dunham, Tiny Furniture
Nik Fackler, Lovely, Still
Bob Glaudini, Jack Goes Boating
Dana Adam Shapiro, Evan M. Wiener, Monogamy

BEST FEMALE LEAD
Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Greta Gerwig, Greenberg
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine

BEST MALE LEAD
Ronald Bronstein, Daddy Longlegs
Aaron Eckhart, Rabbit Hole
James Franco, 127 Hours
John C. Reilly, Cyrus
Ben Stiller, Greenberg

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Ashley Bell, The Last Exorcism
Dale Dickey, Winter’s Bone
Allison Janney, Life During Wartime
Daphne Rubin-Vega, Jack Goes Boating
Naomi Watts, Mother and Child

BEST SUPPORTING MALE

JOHN HAWKES – Winter’s Bone
SAMUEL L. JACKSON – Mother and Child
BILL MURRAY – Get Low
JOHN ORTIZ – Jack Goes Boating
MARK RUFFALO – The Kids Are All Right

BEST DOCUMENTARY
(Award given to the director)

EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP
MARWENCOL
SWEETGRASS
RESTREPO
THUNDER SOUL
BEST FOREIGN FILM
(Award given to the director)

KISSES (Ireland)
MADEMOISELLE CHAMBON (France)
OF GODS AND MEN (Morocco)
THE KING’S SPEECH (United Kingdom)
UNCLE BOONMEE WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES (Thailand)