SANTA MONICA — Setting the stage for what could be the quietest Oscar weekend since 1929, the largely silent film"The Artist"was named Best Feature at the Spirit Awards.
'The Artist" is also favored to win the Best Picture Oscar Sunday. If that happens, it would mark the first time the Spirit and the Oscar have gone to the same film since 1986's"Platoon." It would also be the first silent film to win the Best Picture Oscar since "Wings" in 1929.
In what could be another precursor of things to come, Jean Dujardin won the Male Lead Spirit. He and George Clooney ("The Descendants") are favored in the Best Actor Oscar race.