Spirit Awards 2015: Best and Worst Moments (Photos)

‘Whiplash’, ‘Birdman’, ‘Boyhood’ Blend

The show opened with a sketch featuring Fred Armisen "levitating" in the window as in Birdman, after which he said he's up for Boyhood director Richard Linklater's next movie, which will amount to two weeks of work over 28 years. Also featuring Kristen Bell and Adam Scott, the sketch ended with Bill Hader impersonating Alejandro G. Inarritu, who needed to continuously shoot Whiplash star Miles Teller as he drummed to avoid being killed by his teacher — literally.
Musical Monologue

Onstage, Fred Armisen and Kristen Bell dished out their Whiplash jokes — "[Chazelle] did something no one was done before: he made jazz interesting for people who aren't on heroine" — and repeated Still Alice jokes to point to its topic of Alzheimer's. Armisen also called out Cate Blanchett for sharing screeners with friends: "You know how I got this? From my gardener! Do not give these out! You're ruining it for everybody!" and Bell and Armisen sang a take on Donny & Marie Osmond's "A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock N Roll," with the lyrics, "I'm a little bit indie, I'm a little bit studio," complete with musical interludes for each nominee.
God Is a Woman!

After a snafu with an overhead voice, best supporting female winner Patricia Arquette said upon reaching the podium, "Was that God? She sounded great."
Rushing or Dragging?

When introducing the film Whiplash, J.K. Simmons played off his berating-teacher character when saying of the audience's applause, "Some of them were dragging a little bit," and adding that shooting the film in 19 days "definitely felt like rushing." And when Simmons said Miles Teller is taller in person, he responded, "I was taller than you the whole movie, they just sat me down the whole time!"
‘Dear White People’

"If you don't see yourself in the culture, please put yourself there. We need you. We need to see the world from your eyes," said best first screenplay winner Justin Simien of Dear White People in his acceptance speech.
Robert Altman Award

Paul Thomas Anderson and the Inherent Vice cast and casting director were given the annual honor. At the end of his acceptance speech, Anderson told the audience, "Don't fly American Airlines, they will f—ing lose your luggage. It happened to me! Seriously!"
Jared Leto’s Continuous Gratitude

Last year's best supporting male winner made fun of his own long list of thanks by adding, "That frog that I accidentally squeezed to death in second grade, thank you for teaching me how short life truly can be. Richard Simmons for my flexibility, endurance and uncanny fashion sense…and last but not least, my grandmother for beating me senseless with a flyswatter, teaching me that you can't get away with everything you think you can. Respect your elders unless you want a can of whoop-ass."
‘Birdman’ Inner-Monologue Camera

Bell and Armisen presented voiceovers for guests' inner monologues, including those of Emma Stone (who said she told Oprah Winfrey she saw Selma when she really didn’t), Michael Keaton (who's just too cool) and Julianne Moore (who struggles with the term "pescatarian"), among others. Stone later joked when presented an award that she's "not that talented" to lie to Winfrey.
Dan Gilroy’s Declaration

"Independent film, the foundation and everybody here today, I think are holdouts against a tsunami of superhero movies that have swept over this industry," said Nightcrawler's Dan Gilroy when accepting his second award of the night. "We have survived and we have thrived and I think that's true spirit."
Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Apology”

Special distinction award recipient and Foxcatcher director Bennett Miller jokingly read on behalf of Paul Thomas Anderson, "I said some bad things, I feel bad, I was trying to exhibit my independent spirit, and I thought if I wore a flannel shirt and said a bad word, you would love me more. My apologies to American Airlines. It was actually United."
Michael Keaton’s Thanks

"There's an awful lot of picture-taking of one, interviews and talking and discussion — you're all very aware of this," said Michael Keaton in his acceptance speech for best male lead. "I think we'd all be remiss if we didn’t take a moment and thank Narcissus right now. He doesn't get enough of a shout-out in my opinion."

‘Whiplash’, ‘Birdman’, ‘Boyhood’ Blend

Musical Monologue

God Is a Woman!

Rushing or Dragging?

‘Dear White People’

Robert Altman Award

Jared Leto’s Continuous Gratitude

‘Birdman’ Inner-Monologue Camera

Dan Gilroy’s Declaration

Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Apology”

Michael Keaton’s Thanks