SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 13, 2000 -- Steven Soderbergh's crime-drama "The Limey" and Alexander Payne's high school satire "Election" led the pack of (relatively) low-budget, high-expectation projects as nominations were announced Wednesday for the 15th Annual Independent Spirit Awards, honoring, yes, indie film. "The Limey" and "Election" received a field-best five nominations each. Hollywood blockbusters such as "Toy Story 2" and "The Green Mile" received zippo. (They're not indies.) With the

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 10, 2000 -- And the best picture of 1999 according to the National Society of Film Critics is ... a tie. The period piece "Topsy-Turvy" and the eccentric "Being John Malkovich" shared top honors at the group's awards ceremony Saturday in New York. It's the first time in the society's 34-year history that the best picture vote has been evenly split between two films. "Topsy-Turvy," a Mike Leigh film about operetta composers Gilbert and Sullivan, had previously been re

The awards season has officially kicked off, and "American Beauty" has its first trophy on the mantle. The dark satire was named Best Film of the year Dec. 8 by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. Directed by first-timer Sam Mendes and starring Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening, "Beauty" was released in September to widespread acclaim and solid box office. Anthony Minghella, the Oscar-winning director of "The English Patient," was named Best Director for "The Talented Mr. Ripley," sta