Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Screenwriting Nominations 2008

Okay, so you know you wanna be a screenwriter when you scroll past everything else and go right to the Oscar nominations for best adaptation and best original screenplay which, I might point out, are at the VERY BOTTOM of the page at Oscars.com after sound mixing, sound editing, and visual effects. Interesting. Writers are listed after the award for best make-up.

BEST ADAPTATION
Atonement - Christopher Hampton
Away From Her - Sarah Polley
No Country For Old Men - Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
There Will Be Blood - Paul Thomas Anderson

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Juno - Diablo Cody
Lars and the Real Girl - Nancy Oliver
Michael Clayton - Tony Gilroy
Ratattouille - Screenplay by Brad Bird. Story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird
The Savages - Tamara Jenkins

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ah... Predictions?

Gotta go with THERE WILL BE BLOOD for best adaptation though Coens could pick it up again.

Haven't seen it -- haven't read it but JUNO will most likely pick up best original screenplay though I would rather see LARS AND THE REAL GIRL get it.

Unk

MaryAn Batchellor said...

Well, I'm gonna go with the Coens and Tony Gilroy. Sorry, haven't seen or read Lars. Maybe when I do, I'll change my vote?

Billy Mernit made a comment on his site not too long ago that was spot on. Diablo's dialogue, refreshing as it is, has a "Look, Ma, no hands" way of never giving it a rest. I'd say it's like not allowing the viewer time to finish watching one wheelie before popping another one. I'm not going to pretend I know anything but if I was voting, I'd cast my ballot for Tony Gilroy despite my genuine love for Juno. Juno is truly a charming film but as far as original screenwriting goes, the story is very simple and thin. I think the character portrayals in Juno carry the film more than the screenwriting.

Just my two cents.

Diablo's got another screenplay out there being talked up, by the way, so she'll have something else in production soon.

Anonymous said...

Hmm...I've seen exactly one of those movies mentioned in both categories -- and honestly I found it very underwhelming. I'm always behind the curve on these things. Except for Diablo's other screenplay, which I have but haven't read.

MaryAn Batchellor said...

I'll go mid day now and then middle of the week and see a matinee by myself or drag a friend. No teenagers. No kids. Cheaper tickets. I get to watch in peace and keep my wits about me and the restrooms are clean. If that doesn't work, there's Netflix.

Anonymous said...

I never pay for a movie -- I have gift cards from parents at my school. Since I rarely go, they accumulate. I have one that's two years old. Even free, sometimes it's just not worth it...

Anonymous said...

Just to clarify...

I haven't seen or read JUNO and I sure as HELL don't want to see it win.

I just think it will.

Unfortunately.

She's the new flavor... The Academy likes flavors. LOL.

I hope I'm wrong.

Unk

MaryAn Batchellor said...

Well, Unk, Juno is a fun watch. But since I really believe it's Ellen Page and Jason Reitman, not so much the screenwriting, that makes it adorable, I'm interested in seeing what the Academy does.

Anonymous said...

I am pulling for Tony too, he's my man... I am reading his new one Duplicity right now and right off the first page he makes me excited to reasd his words... btw, I also have Diablo's next one Jennifer's Body too (a horror script)