In my opinion, original screenplay must be the harder of the two screenplays. I mean to adapt another person's material must be difficult, but to come up with new material entirely on your own, just find that to be amazing. Needless to say, we get a lot of that with this batch of nominees. I am sad that the great 50/50 and Win Win, the little indie that could, were left off the list. That being said, there are some likes and dislikes with this list, but lets get into that later. Here are the nominees:
The Artist: Michel Hazanavicius
Now many are quick to call foul on this for not having a true screenplay, but I say otherwise. The true story written here is filled with such a design that it needn't have a screenplay, which is good since that is the films intention. Its a well appointed story with many great plot twists and suspense as well as humor that makes even the most jam-packed screenplays seem empty by comparison. That being said, it really is the acting, directing and editing that truly shine in this film, and the Academy generally go for witty and sharp humor/dialogue in a screenplay, so I think this will come up short. In the case of a sweep, which I am not buying into, it might have a chance at taking this, but for now runner-up it shall be.
Bridesmaids: Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo
Now, I might be in the minority, but I think this doesn't deserve to be here. While I found the film to be ok, I didn't see it as Oscar-ly and just saw it as a crude, very dark screenplay that I felt never truly resolved itself in the end. Now I am not surprised by the nomination, it was a long time coming, I was just hoping that the Academy would have gone for something less, well crude. I will take solace that this won't win for the fact that it has only one other nomination, for McCarthy. Again, I didn't hate the film, I just don't think its Academy material.
Margin Call: J.C. Chandor
I am extremely surprised by this nomination, it kind of came out of nowhere. It gained some Indie momentum, but not as much as Win Win or 50/50 for me to consider it in the mix. While I have yet to see the film, it does look like something the Academy might go for (a suspenseful business film filled with what must be some clever writing about the collapse of the stock exchange). That being said, it doesn't stand a chance. Not only is it the film's sole nomination, it has, as I said earlier, gained no momentum to even campaign an upset, the nomination is the reward.
Midnight in Paris: Woody Allen
This was arguably my favorite screenplay of the year. Not only is great with its 20's dialogue, but also meshing it with modern day dialogue is brilliant and effortless. It is also quite witty and rather sharp. My favorite sequences of the year was Corey Stoll's well written Hemingway (ANOTHER MAN ROBBED!!!). I am happy to say that, unless the Artist gets more love than I am predicting, this is your winner. Woody may hate awards, but awards love Woody. Everything is going his way and if he takes the Writer's Guild, which I am assuming he will, I think that will further assure the win (note: I know the Artist was ineligible and the nomination was a long time coming, but I just can't see it taking this one).
A Separation: Asghar Farhadi
I am a sucker for international films that tell a story that is not only unique in its own right, but also mixes in their nationality's culture as well (Y Tu Mama Tambien quickly comes to mind). That being said, A Separation is a welcomed surprise, I am happy it was able to get in while 50/50 and Win Win have not. While I have not seen it (yet), I have this on my list of most anticipated, so to see it in here clearly shows two things: A) the film is loved by the Academy and B) the screenplay is fantastic. I know B might sound like a bias opinion, but foreign films rarely crack through. Unless you are a world renowned Foreign director/writer (ie Pedro Almodovar), or you film is quite fantastic (ie Y Tu Mama Tambien/Cidade de Deus), foreign films generally never make it. That being said, unless your a big named foreign film writer, you equally almost never win. Still, good for Farhadi on getting the nomination, it is well earned.
Winner: Midnight in Paris
Runner-up: The Artist
Should Win: Midnight in Paris
Should've been Nominated: Win Win
Reason Why it Should Win:
(This is probably the only time I'm doing this, but I mean this gives us both great dialogue and strong acting)
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