Lynn Shelton’s EFFORTLESS BRILLIANCE?

It is routine to question the Academy’s annual selections. Did SLUMDOG deserve its Oscar® riches? Did Mickey soil his britches hearing Sean Penn‘s name read aloud? Strangely, the Independent Spirit Awards don’t generate nearly as much speculation. Perhaps, in part, because so many of the nominated titles play on so few screens. Case in point: The Acura Someone To Watch Award. Seattle’s own Lynn Shelton took home the trophy — and 25 grand! — for her sophomore feature, MY EFFORTLESS BRILLIANCE. (Her third feature, HUMPDAY, will screen as part of the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes!) But few have actually seen the film which premiered at SXSW in 2008. Now’s your chance. As of today, MY EFFORTLESS BRILLIANCE is available via iTunes and Amazon-on-Demand*.

What about the competition? Well, SITA SINGS THE BLUES, a bittersweet, animated (loss of) love story, played the festival circuit, but arcane copyright issues kept it from opening theatrically. Indeed, music rights limit Nina Paley‘s heartfelt flick to free/please-pay-what-you-will downloads on-line. Barry Jenkins‘ MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY has been available via Comcast On Demand and should be released on dvd soon. This smart indie, starring Wyatt Cenac of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, may be one of the best examples of Mumblecore, though its ambitions are much greater than the generational sub-genre. MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY dares to address issues of race and class within the context of an unorthodox romance. (You don’t see Nancy Meyers aiming quite so high.)

So, watch these three movies. Question what you see. Consider what you don’t. Draw your own conclusions. Then, cast your votes here. The Warren Report will present its own award to the readers’ choice. Minus the moolah.

*Question though, why 15 bucks? Does this do anything to encourage movie-lovers to experiment with the unknown? Yipes. How about 5 dollars and a coupon for free popcorn? Discuss amongst ourselves!