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BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: A CATEGORY ANALYSIS (SEPTEMBER)

"No Country for Old Men" marks a welcome return to the Oscar race for the Coen Bros.

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By Josh Kirschenbaum

The slots in the screenplay categories are usually reserved for the best picture nominees. In this way, the two categories are closely linked. In the original screenplay category, the leftover slots usually go to smart, well-written dramedies. In the adapted screenplay category, the leftover slots go a very specific type of film: too experimental or without the sufficient campaign for a best pic nod, but still very well written. Most of the adapted screenplay contenders either make it to the best picture line-up or completely flop, failing to get any nods. This allows the aforementioned niche of films to sneak in for a nomination. ‘Borat,’ ‘Children of Men,’ ‘A History of Violence,’ ‘The Constant Gardener,’ and ‘Little Children’ are good examples of this sort of film. With that in mind, here is a close look at this year’s adapted Screenplay category.

No Country for Old Men – Adapted Screenplay by: Ethan and Joel Coen

Adapted from: The novel by Cormac McCarthy

Synopsis: A man stumbles across some dead bodies, a truck full of heroin, and a bag of money. He takes the money and goes on the run from the people who want their money back.

The Buzz: The Coen brothers are probably the best film writers working today. They rightfully won an original screenplay Oscar® back in 1996 for ‘Fargo’. This is their first adapted screenplay (unless you count ‘O Brother, Where art Thou?,’ which was loosely based on “The Odyssey”) and having seen the film in Toronto, I can safely say it’s one of their best. The film should be able to be nominated for best picture (thereby ensuring it a spot in this category), but on the off chance that best pic buzz dies out, a screenplay adaptation is still very likely. The film is very loyal to the book and contains all the Coen trademarks. Critics should love it. Chances: Very good.

American Gangster – Adapted Screenplay by: Steven Zaillian

Adapted from: The New York Magazine article “The Return of Superfly” by Marc Jacobson

Synopsis: A drug lord rises to power in the 1970s by using the coffins of American soldiers returning home from Vietnam.

The Buzz: Steven Zaillian is no stranger to this category. He picked up an Oscar® for his adapted screenplay of ‘Schindler’s List’. His writing has steadily declined since then. After writing trash like ‘Mission: Impossible’ and ‘The Interpreter’ (‘Gangs of New York’ was a bright spot but that film had a lot of problems with it’s screenplay) Zaillian decided to direct. After ‘All the Kings Men’ became a monumental flop, Zaillian decided to stick to writing and started working on ‘American Gangster’. With Ridley Scott at the helm and Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe starring, Zaillian is the most likely to fail. If the film flops, my bet is that it will be because of its screenplay. Therefore, if Zaillian gets it right, the film will get multiple nominations and he’ll make the top five. It’s unlikely he’ll be nominated without the film. Luckily for him, the film looks to be great. Chances: good.

Charlie Wilson’s War – Adapted Screenplay by: Aaron Sorkin

Adapted from: The non-fiction book “Charlie Wilson’s War: The Extraordinary Story of How the Wildest Man in Congress and a Rogue CIA Agent Changed the History of Our Time” by George Crile.

Synopsis: Texas congressman Charlie Wilson has covert dealings in Afghanistan. He helps the Afghani rebels in their war against the Soviet Union, but his actions have unforeseen consequences that change the course of history.

The Buzz: Aaron Sorkin is a brilliant writer. He wrote more than half of the episodes for his hit TV show ‘The West Wing’ (by comparison, Alan Ball wrote only nineteen episodes of his show ‘Six Feet Under’) as well as the screenplay for ‘A Few Good Men’ (which was based on his play). He is no stranger to adaptations and early script reviews are very good. If the film becomes an awards juggernaut, he’ll definitely be nominated (he’ll probably win). If the reviews turn out to be mediocre to good, his name recognition could very well get him nominated. Only if the film ends up being absolutely horrible will he be forgotten. Chances: Very good.

There Will Be Blood – Adapted Screenplay by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Adapted from: The novel “Oil!” by Upton Sinclair

Synopsis: A Texas oil developer starts his business in a small town and clashes with its inhabitants: including a local faith healer with a small cult of followers.

The Buzz: Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the most amazing writers and directors to work in film. All of his previous projects have been too offbeat for the academy’s tastes. This film looks to be more up their alley. Even if they are put off by the title and his eccentric directing style, the academy could very well honor him with a writing nod (like they usually do). Chances: Very Good

Atonement – Adapted Screenplay by: Christopher Hampton

Adapted from: The novel by Ian McEwan

Synopsis: A thirteen-year-old girl accuses her older sister’s lover of a crime he did not commit. The film follows the way in which all of their lives were changed by this lie.

The Buzz: The film has been getting stellar reviews everywhere it goes. People are comparing director Joe Wright to Stanley Kubrick. The reviews are also praising the adaptation. The film will likely be nominated for best picture (maybe even win it too), thereby ensuring it a spot in this category. If for some inexplicable reason the film should be left out of the best pic line-up, its chances of being nominated for a screenplay Oscar® are still very good. Chances: Very Good

Sweeney Todd – Adapted Screenplay by: John Logan

Adapted from: The Tony Award® winning musical by Stephen Sondheim

Synopsis: The story of Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. He sets up a barbershop and promptly kills its customers.

The Buzz: Musicals rarely get screenplay attention unless they are also best picture contenders. This film will either be a huge hit with AMPAS and get Picture, Director, and Screenplay noms, or will fail miserably and not garner any nominations. That said, Logan and Burton collaborate often and know how to work with one another. Expectations aren’t high enough for the film to over-hype itself (‘Dreamgirls’ style). It will more than likely be very good. Chances: Very Good

The Kite Runner – Adapted Screenplay by: David Benioff

Adapted from: The novel by Khaled Hosseini

Synopsis: An Afghani man returns from California to his homeland to help his old friend, whose son is in trouble.

The Buzz: Same as ‘Sweeney Todd’. This film will either be a huge hit or a big flop. It’s not the sort of film that AMPAS will honor with a writing nomination without a matching one in the best picture category. Expectations are very high and the book was popular enough for most of the academy members to have read it. Unless it’s a spectacular adaptation, they will probably be disappointed. It all comes down to David Benioff’s ability to adapt this beloved work. Benioff is a talented writer (anyone who saw ‘The 25th Hour’ can attest to that) but can also write very badly (Troy). Chances: Moderate

Love in the Time of Cholera – Adapted Screenplay by: Ronald Harwood

Adapted from: The novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Synopsis: The chronicle of a love triangle in turn-of-the-century South America

The Buzz: I feel this will end up being this year’s ‘The Painted Veil’; it has little buzz behind it, but is baity enough that it should. It will probably be very good but not have the campaign to be a major contender. But if it becomes a surprise hit, AMPAS may choose to honor it with a screenplay nom. Chances: Moderate

The Simpsons Movie – Adapted Screenplay by: fifteen different Simpsons' writers

Adapted from: The hit TV show

Synopsis: Homer unwittingly causes Springfield to be quarantined from the rest of the world, thereby making the Simpsons outcasts. Homer goes on a quest to redeem himself in eyes of Springfield’s denizen and of his family.

The Buzz: Though a hit with audiences and critics alike, the film is far too “light” to compete against heavyweights like ‘Atonement’ and ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’. Chances: Very Poor

Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – Adapted Screenplay by: Andrew Dominik

Adapted from: The novel by Ron Hansen

Synopsis: The title is kind of self-explanatory

The Buzz: This film was originally going to compete in last year’s Oscar® race but was pushed back. It could very well be this year’s ‘All the Kings Men’. But early reviews have been good. The film could end up being a surprise contender. But I doubt audiences will go for a three hour long western with Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck, and the film hasn’t gotten the raves it will need to stay in the race. This is the sort of film that if it fails to get a best pic nom, a screenplay nom is out as well. Chances: Poor

Away from Her – Adapted Screenplay by: Sarah Polley

Adapted from: The short story “The Bear Came Over the Mountain” by Alice Munro

Synopsis: A man struggles to cope when his wife develops Alzheimer’s disease and moves into a nursing home. While there, she forgets about her husband and falls in love with a wheelchair bound mute who is also a patient there.

The Buzz: The film got some of the best reviews of the year. Unfortunately, it was released too early and is far too small to make the top five in this very competitive year. Chances: Very poor (but rising).

3:10 to Yuma – Adapted Screenplay by: Halsted Welles, Michael Brandt, and Derek Haas

Adapted from: The short story by Elmore Leonard

Synopsis: A rancher joins forces with a bounty hunter, a doctor, and a bureaucrat to get a ruthless outlaw on the 3:10 train to the Yuma jail. The outlaw’s gang comes to rescue him.

The Buzz: The film is a huge hit with audiences. It’s currently listed at #148 on IMDB’s top 250 films of all time. James Mangold (director) is very respected after his 2005 Johnny Cash biopic, ‘Walk the Line’. The film got very good reviews and many people said it was better than the original film. All that said, it has quite a few hills to overcome if it plans to get nominated. It’s an action film, which AMPAS tends to look down on. It’s a western, which may not be ‘Intelligent’ enough for a screenplay nod. It stars Russell Crowe, who is not well liked by academy members. This year, most of the major best pic hopefuls are adapted screenplays. It was released relatively early in the season and will have troubled being remembered come voting time. It’s success in this years race (in this category as well as all others) entirely depends on how well its competitors are received. If at least five other “Oscar®” films get good reviews, it’s out. Chances: Poor.

Hairspray – Adapted Screenplay by: Leslie Dixon

Adapted from: The Tony Award® musical by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. The musical was based on the 1988 John Waters film.

Synopsis: Tracy Turnblad is a plump teenager who dreams of dancing on her favorite TV show. On her journey to get on the show, she deals with racism and integration.

The Buzz: Won’t make it unless the film gets a best picture nod. So unless enough major contenders flop (which seems unlikely) and the film gets a huge GG push, it’s out. Chances: Very poor

Into the Wild – Adapted Screenplay by: Sean Penn

Adapted from: The novel by John Krakauer

Synopsis: After graduating from college, a student abandons his possessions, donates his savings account to charity, and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wild.

The Buzz: The film has been getting good notices at festivals and it’s becoming a major question mark in this year’s race. It could become a major contender if it gets raves and does respectable box-office. It’s something of a wild card in this year’s race, though it is the kind of project that AMPAS could honor with a screenplay nod if it gets enough of a following. But, thinking practically, it’s very unlikely that the film will get the raves (and audiences) it needs. Chances: Poor.

What are your current Best Adapted Screenplay Predictions?

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