2009 Independent Spirit Awards

RYAN: I love the Spirit Awards for having the audacity to host their show the night before the Oscars.

CAROLINE: I love them for giving me something to do the night before the big night.

RYAN: They’re always uber casual in comparison. The stars drop the F-bomb, wear jeans – the men anyway – and they just have a much more low-key time since they’re honoring indie movies only.

CAROLINE: But this year, as we expect with the Oscars, the Spirit Awards stepped up their production a bit. There were musical numbers and a more lively, entertaining show, all around.

RYAN: And a little Hollywood hilarity – who did the Christian Bale/Joaquin Phoenix spoof?

CAROLINE: Duh, it was Steve Coogan as Bale. No idea who played Joaquin, but it was fabulous!

RYAN: And like any good awards show, there was a celebrity stroke moment. This time, it was courtesy of Cameron Diaz who messed up presenting so badly it can only be explained as a clot-through-brain moment.

CAROLINE: [laughs’ She did Elizabeth Taylor proud, that’s for sure.

RYAN: [laughs’ Can we all get over Mickey Rourke now? I mean, they were calling him a legend by night’s end and I am just so over it.

CAROLINE: Please! And his plea to hook up Eric Roberts with some work was just embarrassing. He needs to take a tip from Meryl Streep who did Viola Davis a solid at the GGs.

RYAN: I was embarrassed for both host Steve Coogan, whom we normally adore, but also for poor Teri Hatcher – looked like she was auditioning for Marisa Tomei’s stripper role in “The Wrestler.”

CAROLINE: I wished they had cut to Anne Hathaway when Melissa Leo won the award for Best Female. You know she was freaking out.

RYAN: So sad. Now what’s gonna happen when they throw Kate Winslet in the mix tomorrow night?

CAROLINE: Oh, no contest.

RYAN: I actually liked Penelope Cruz tonight during her acceptance speech and her English has improved, however slightly. But did you notice the ice-eyes she gave Jessica Alba as she approached to accept the award?

CAROLINE: Oh whatever. Jessica wishes she could get the roles Penny gets.

RYAN: Drew Barrymore’s little taped segment was the highlight of the night.

CAROLINE: Here are the winners in the only categories we really care about: