Christopher Plummer had better start polishing his acceptance speech, if he hasn't already, for the Oscars on Sunday, after his prize of Best Supporting Male at the Independent Spirit Awards in Los Angeles made him all but a shoo-in for the same prize at the Academy Awards.
82-year-old Plummer has swept through this year's awards season, previously collecting a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for his role of Hal Fields in Beginners. In director Mike Mills' autobiographical work, Plummer plays Ewan McGregor's father, who decides to come out as gay in later life, once his wife has died. Plummer is both mischievous and moving in the role, which is Academy torchpaper when it comes to appealing to voters come Awards season.
Plummer did not appear complacent about his Independent Spirit Award, paying tribute to all the good and bad decisions that had helped him come to this point in his career, and once again paying tribute to his wife of 40 years, Elaine.
PHOTOS FROM THE SPIRIT AWARDS: