Best Original Screenplay Archives - Page 2 of 2

Oscars 2018: The Screenplays

February 19, 2019March 5, 2021 Jeremy BeckOscars

Adam Driver and John David Washington in "BlacKkKlansman"

Thus far in our walkthrough of the Oscars, we’ve looked at some miscellaneous technical categories and some higher-profile technical fields. Now we’re getting to the good stuff, beginning with the screenplays.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

NOMINEES
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs—Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
BlacKkKlansman—Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott, and Spike Lee
Can You Ever Forgive Me?—Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty
If Beale Street Could Talk—Barry Jenkins
A Star Is Born—Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper, and Will Fetters Read More

Oscars 2017: The supporting actors and the screenplays

February 28, 2018May 7, 2021 Jeremy BeckOscars

Allison Janney, a likely Oscar winner for "I, Tonya"

Having previously looked at the technical categories, both big and small, we’re now moving on to the heavy hitters in this year’s Oscars:

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

NOMINEES
Call Me by Your Name—James Ivory
The Disaster Artist—Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber
Logan—Scott Frank, James Mangold, and Michael Green
Molly’s Game—Aaron Sorkin
Mudbound—Virgil Williams and Dee Rees
Read More

Oscars 2016: The big techies; the screenplays

February 22, 2017May 21, 2021 Jeremy BeckOscars

Jennifer Lawrence in "Passengers", a dual Oscar nominee

The Manifesto’s analysis of the 2016 Oscars continues. Yesterday, we checked in on eight different miscellaneous categories. Today, we’re finishing up the technical fields, analyzing five categories that I’m a bit more passionate about. And due to time constraints, we’re also looking at the two screenplay races. Let’s dive in. Read More

Oscars 2015: The Screenplays

February 25, 2016June 25, 2021 Jeremy BeckOscars

Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling in "The Big Short"

Yesterday, the Manifesto analyzed the technical categories. Today, we’re looking at the screenplays and the supporting actor/actress awards. You can find the latter here; for the former, read on. Read More

Oscars 2014: The Screenplays (Best Original and Best Adapted)

February 19, 2015June 30, 2021 Jeremy BeckOscars

Keira Knightley and Benedict Cumberbatch in The Imitation Game

Unlike with the supporting actor and actress fields, both screenplay categories are a bit trickier to predict this year. Let’s get to it.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

NOMINEES
Birdman—Alejandro González Iñárritu et al.
Boyhood—Richard Linklater
Foxcatcher—E. Max Frye, Dan Futterman
The Grand Budapest Hotel—Wes Anderson, Hugo Guinness
Nightcrawler—Dan Gilroy

WILL WIN
It’s tempting to view this as a duel between the two Best Picture favorites in Birdman and Boyhood. But Academy voters tend to broaden their scope a bit with this category, which makes me lean away from the prizefighters and toward The Grand Budapest Hotel. It triumphed at the BAFTAs, and it defeated Boyhood at the Writers’ Guild (Birdman was deemed ineligible). It’s also more writerly than the other two screenplays, with snappy dialogue and a quirky time-jumping structure. Given that the two heavy hitters have failed to separate from one another, I don’t think either has the tidal wave of support that would bring this award in with the tide. The Grand Budapest Hotel bags yet another trophy.