Looks like somebody pulled a hustle on "Hustle & Flow." That masterpiece deserves major mention because it only got made after filmmakers took out extra mortgages on their homes. Aren't those the kinds of films that the Indie Spirits are all about? The kudos are supposed to trumpet the underdog films, not big-buck spectacles like "Brokeback Mountain," which competes for best picture at the Spirits and will probably do so at the Oscars, too.

At least star Terrence Howard got nommed for best actor. That's more than can be said for snubee Tommy Lee Jones, who stars, and makes his directorial debut, in ' "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada." The film has key critical support, plus it won best actor and screenplay honors at Cannes in May. Some award watchers believe "Three Burials" has such strong buzz now that it could turn out to be a major player at the Oscars where actors comprise the largest voting bloc and often root for fellow actors, even when they compete out of category.

But not only did Spirit voters fail to give Jones bids for either best director or actor, the latter snub really hurts because costar Barry Pepper made the cut for best supporting actor with a far less emotive role.

Where's Cillian Murphy? Perhaps he's really having breakfast on Pluto. If so, he's no doubt breaking bagels with Joan Allen, who's got good reason to be ticked off about the oversight of "The Upside of Anger."

Many Spirit gurus believed that this year's noms would be dominated by "Hustle," "Three Burials," "Upside" and "Pluto" in addition to some films that did fare fairly well: "Capote," "Crash," "Transamerica" and "Good Night, and Good Luck."

Next: Will there be huge jaw-droppers on awards night in March?