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BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: CHALLENGING WRITER'S BLOCK!

A rat who can cook in Paris? Clever! And Oscar-worthy!

FEATURES

By Kelly Doucette

The Original Screenplay category is always one of the most interesting each year. It is the category where comedy films usually are most successful and where excellent dialogue is rewarded. This year, there are so many films that could possibly compete. In my next list; I have included an animated film, a few comedies and even a foreign film among the usual dramatic contenders. By no means are these the only films being considered in this category right now, a few surprise contenders still have yet to pop up. So, without further adieu, sit back, relax, and enjoy…

KNOCKED UP – Original Screenplay by: Judd Apatow

Synopsis: Slobby Ben and up and coming career girl Alison meet at a bar and end up having a one night stand. Eight weeks later, Ben is shocked when Alison meets him and reveals that she is pregnant. Despite having little in common, the two decide that they have to at least try to make some kind of relationship work for the baby's sake.

The Rundown: In recent years, comedy nominations have taken the WGA by storm, but one has yet to win. MEAN GIRLS, THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN (co-written by Apatow), and BORAT are all among those WGA nominees. Who should be surprised? Remember the good old days when Woody Allen would turn out an excellent script almost every year? The WGA and Academy loved the old guy and now they seem to have returned to the genre that Woody made so popular, at least not when he dabbled in drama. While the MEAN GIRLS nod got forgotten rather quickly, VIRGIN’s script by “virgin” screenwriter Steve Carell and Judd Apatow was very popular and quite a shock when it was ignored by the Academy (who only really acknowledges “smart” comedies). Perhaps it was because a vast majority of the film was improvised and that the script was purely an outline of sorts, I do not know, but I do know that KNOCKED UP will probably not live up to its name in Oscar glory.

MARGOT AT THE WEDDING – Original Screenplay by: Noah Baumbach

Synopsis: Margot and her son Claude decide to visit Margot's sister, Pauline after she announces that she is getting married to less-than-impressive Malcolm.

The Rundown: Perhaps one of the best budding screenwriters around, Baumbach has had a hit-or-miss career thus far. The 37-year-old filmmaker got his start as a writer-director on the 1995 dramedy KICKING AND SCREAMING (no relation to the 2005 Will Ferrell comedy flop) in which he co-starred with the likes of Eric Stoltz and Parker Posey, among others. The film was a modest critical success but was soon forgotten. His follow up film, HIGHBALL, which he directed under the pseudonym Ernie Fusco and wrote under the name Jesse Carter, and which paired Baumbach with Justine Bateman and filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich, was a complete disaster, which is probably why Baumbach removed his writing and directing credits from the film. Since then, he has gone on to write-direct the films MR. JEALOUSY and the surprisingly successful THE SQUID AND THE WHALE (2005, with Laura Linney and Jeff Daniels). Shortly before helming WHALE, Baumbach got recognized by a wider crowd for co-writing (with fellow Oscar nominee Wes Anderson), the quirky independent film THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU (2004, with Bill Murray and Owen Wilson, among others). Now, Baumbach returns for the first time since he was Oscar-nominated for THE SQUID AND THE WHALE and it looks to be another success. The cast looks great, with the possible exception of Jack Black who was the worst part of the 2005 Oscar winner KING KONG. Up next for Baumbach is an adaptation of the novel THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX, which will re-team him with STEVE ZISSOU co-writer Anderson and is set to feature the voices of Oscar winners Cate Blanchett and George Clooney.

MICHAEL CLAYTON – Original Screenplay by: Tony Gilroy

Synopsis: Michael Clayton is an in-house "fixer" at one of the largest corporate law firms in New York. A former criminal prosecutor, Clayton takes care of Kenner, Bach & Ledeen's dirtiest work at the behest of the firm's co-founder Marty Bach. Though burned out and hardly content with his job as a fixer: his divorce, a failed business venture and mounting debt have left Clayton inextricably tied to the firm. At U/North, meanwhile, the career of litigator Karen Crowder rests on the multi-million dollar settlement of a class action suit that Clayton's firm is leading to a seemingly successful conclusion. But when Kenner Bach's brilliant and guilt-ridden attorney Arthur Edens sabotages the U/North case, Clayton faces the biggest challenge of his career and his life.

The Buzz: The directorial debut of screenwriting vet Gilroy (the BOURNE franchise), MICHAEL CLAYTON features an ensemble cast that diversely includes Oscar winners George Clooney and Sydney Pollack, Oscar nominees Tom Wilkinson and Michael O’Keefe, Golden Globe nominee Tilda Swinton, and Tony-winner Ken Howard. Most of the buzz for this film has been for star George Clooney, probably because it is supposedly his best role since his Oscar-winning performance in SYRIANA. Thrillers are a favorite for screenplay nominations; REAR WINDOW, THE EXORCIST, and IN THE LINE OF FIRE are just a few that have earned a well-deserved screenwriting nod for their writers.

RATATOUILLE -– Original Screenplay by: Brad Bird

Synopsis: Remy is a rat, constantly risking life in an expensive French restaurant because of his love of good food, as well as a desire to become a chef. Yet, obviously, this is a rather tough dream for a rat. But opportunity knocks when a young boy, who desperately needs to keep his job at the restaurant, despite his lack of cooking abilities, discovers and partners the young Remy. Its up to the two of them to avoid the insane head chef, bring the rest of Remy's family up to his standards, win his partner a girl, and, of course, produce the finest Ratatouille in all of France.

The Buzz: Animation is a rarity in any category outside of music, sound, and animated film. But when it does venture out, it is a genuine and deserving screenplay nominee. So far, Pixar has gathered three out of the four screenplay nods for animated films: TOY STORY (1995), FINDING NEMO (2003), and THE INCREDIBLES (2004), the latter of which was also written by Bird, a former writer and animator for THE SIMPSONS, who made his feature directorial debut with the 2-D classic THE IRON GIANT (1999). After hitting a mild snag in the road with last year’s CARS, Pixar is back at the top of the game more than ever with this heartfelt dramedy, which also uses more physical comedy than any of its previous films combined. An A-List supporting cast that includes Oscar veterans Ian Holm and Peter O’Toole, Emmy nominees Will Arnett, Janeane Garofalo, Brad Garrett and Pixar veteran John Ratzenberger and a vastly unknown lead cast that includes comedian Patton Oswalt (KING OF QUEENS) and Pixar animators Peter Sohn as Remy’s brother and Lou Romano as the janitor Remy befriends. Romano previously voiced the anxiety-driven schoolteacher in Bird’s previous film THE INCREDIBLES and a racecar in CARS. This is Sohn’s first major vocal part after previously laying down pre-casting scratch work in Pixar films.

THE SAVAGES – Original Screenplay by: Tamara Jenkins

Synopsis: A sister and brother face the realities of familial responsibility as they begin to care for their ailing father.

The Buzz: Independent films are also favorite nominees in the Original Screenplay category, comedy or drama. CRASH, SIDEWAYS, and IN THE BEDROOM are just a few of the recent surge of indie film. The genre, created by actor-turned filmmaker John Cassavetes has never been better. In this indie drama, Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman teams with Oscar-nominee Laura Linney and Tony-winner Philip Bosco for the film written and directed by Tamara Jenkins. The film is executive produced by Oscar winner Alexander Payne, whose most recent screenwriting credit was this summer’s comedy disaster I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK & LARRY.

WAITRESS – Original Screenplay by: Adrienne Shelly

Synopsis: Jenna is unhappily married, squirreling away money, and hoping to win a pie-baking contest so, with the prize money, she'll have enough cash to leave her husband Earl. She finds herself pregnant, which throws her plans awry. She bakes phenomenal pies at Joe's diner, listens to old Joe's wisdom, tolerates her sour boss Cal, is friends with Dawn and Becky (her fellow waitresses), and finds a mutual attraction with the new doctor in town. As the pregnancy advances, life with Earl seems less tolerable and the affair with the doctor is complicated by his marriage. What options does a waitress have?

The Buzz: After the unexpected 2006 murder of actress/filmmaker Shelly, no one expected the film to get this far this soon. Whether or not Shelly is nominated posthumously, it doesn’t matter, the success speaks for itself. The film, which stars Kerri Russell (FELICITY), Cheryl Hines (CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM), filmmaker Shelly, Jeremy Sisto (SIX FEET UNDER), and the legendary Andy Griffith (who came out of retirement to portray an elderly diner patron). The Academy could go one of two ways in terms of a possible Shelly screenwriting nod: they could either feel bad that she lost her life and give her a posthumous nomination to honor her, or they could decide not to give out another posthumous nomination, because if she’s dead, she won’t be around to appreciate it anyway, right?

IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH – Original Screenplay by: Paul Haggis

Synopsis: When model soldier Mike Deerfield mysteriously goes AWOL shortly after returning to the U.S. from the front lines in Iraq, his career officer father Hank enlists the aid of police detective Emily Sanders in the search for his son. His wife Joan also joins them to uncover the truth of his disappearance.

The Buzz: Back in 2005, political-driven films were a tour-de-force taking the Oscars by storm. Perhaps one of the most politically controversial film of the year, IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH is the brainchild of first-time screenwriter Mark Boal who would later leave the project in the hands of Oscar-winner Paul Haggis (CRASH) to pursue a different screenwriting project. After earning a Best Director Oscar nomination, Haggis also signed on to produce and direct the ensemble cast that includes a trio of Oscar winners: Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, and Susan Sarandon, as well as a strong supporting cast that includes Jonathan Tucker as the missing soldier, James Franco (SPIDER-MAN), Frances Fisher (TITANIC), Jason Patric (SLEEPERS), Barry Corbin (NORTHERN EXPOSURE), and Josh Brolin (GRINDHOUSE) who is experiencing the best year of his career, thus far. So far, Haggis has earned at least one Oscar nomination a year since the 2005 ceremony, winning the screenplay and Best Picture Oscars in 2006, for CRASH. But after the undeserving best picture win for CRASH, will the Academy really want to let him win again so soon? Let’s just call it an Oscar conspiracy…

ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE – Original Screenplay by: Michael Hirst and William Nicholson

Synopsis: An exploration of the relationship between Elizabeth I and the adventurer Sir Walter Raleigh.

The Buzz: A sequel of sorts of the 1998 original Cate Blanchett film, we have yet another film about a British monarch named Elizabeth. I doubt that the Academy will hand it any major Oscars despite giving it what appears like a lot of nominations. The strongest bet it has is at winning the Best Actress Oscar for star Cate Blanchett, whom many feel was wrongfully snubbed back in 1999 when she lost out on her first Oscar nod for playing the Queen to Gwyneth Paltrow for SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE.

LIONS FOR LAMBS – Original Screenplay by: Matthew Michael Carnahan

Synopsis: Lions for Lambs begins after two determined students at a West Coast University, Arian and Ernest, follow the inspiration of their idealistic professor, Dr. Malley and attempt to do something important with their lives. But when the two make the bold decision to join the battle in Afghanistan; Malley is both moved and distraught. Now, as Arian and Ernest fight for survival in the field, they become the string that binds together two disparate stories on opposite sides of America. In California, an anguished Dr. Malley attempts to reach a privileged but disaffected student who is the very opposite of Arian and Ernest. Meanwhile, in Washington D.C. the charismatic Presidential hopeful, Senator Jasper Irving, is about to give a bombshell story to a probing TV journalist that may affect Arian and Ernest's fates.

The Buzz: First time screenwriters have always gotten a lot of respect, should the film be a major Oscar player. First time film screenwriters David Magee (FINDING NEVERLAND), Diana Ossana (BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN), Iris Yamashita (LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA), Tom Perrotta (LITTLE CHILDREN), and Michael Arndt (LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE) are among the most recent debut nominees, the latter two of which won in this same category. Other Oscar-nominated legendary screenwriting debuts include those of Ben Hecht (1927’s UNDERWORLD), Noel Coward (1942’s IN WHICH WE SERVE), and Robert Bolt (1962’s LAWRENCE OF ARABIA). Carnahan, a well-clouted rising screenwriting talent is the brother of director Joe Carnahan (NARC). In addition to this film, which Carnahan is also producing, he has three other films set to be released in the next two or three years: THE KINGDOM (2007): the Peter Berg war drama starring Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner, STATE OF PLAY (2008): a remake of the BBC mini-series of the same name starring Brad Pitt and directed by Kevin Macdonald (THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND), and finally, WHITE JAZZ (2009): an adaptation of the James Ellroy crime novel of the same name set to star George Clooney and directed by Matt’s brother Joe.

I’M NOT THERE – Original Screenplay by: Oren Moverman & Todd Haynes

Synopsis: Formerly going by the title of "I'm Not There: Suppositions on a Film Concerning Dylan", this is a film about the life of Bob Dylan. The film follows seven characters, each embodying a different aspect of Dylan's life story and music. It's the first biographical feature project to secure the approval of the pop culture icon. The film is about the life of Bob Dylan's early days as a struggling folksinger, the rise to the forefront of the early-'60s folk scene, the controversial switch to rock, the motorcycle accident and the subsequent retreat from public view, and the latter-day de-emphasis of recording and concentration on the concert series known as the Never Ending Tour. Sources somehow have uncovered some new information in that oft-scanned showbiz legend, mostly about Dylan's childhood and his jealously guarded family life. Some of it actually provides further insight into his songs, particularly those about his wife, Sara. Sources also blow the lid off Dylan's here-to-fore unknown 1986 marriage to one of his backup singers. Each story expresses an aspect of Dylan's mercurial personality and each story is to be filmed differently, in a style appropriate to its theme: Woody - an 11-year-old black boy, always on the run; Robbie - a womanizing performer, always on the road; Jude - the young androgynous rock star; John/Jack - a folk idol who reinvents himself as an evangelist; Billy - the famous outlaw, miraculously alive but growing old.

The Buzz: Reclusive filmmaker Haynes’ last film was the melodrama FAR FROM HEAVEN (2002). It was well acclaimed and earned Oscar four Oscar nominations including those for Best Actress (Julianne Moore) and Best Original Screenplay for Haynes. For his followup film, a quirky Bob Dylan biopic, Haynes enlisted an all-star cast of Christian Bale, Richard Gere, Bruce Greenwood, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Ben Whishaw (PERFUME), child actor Marcus Carl Franklin (LACKAWANNA BLUES), comedian David Cross (ETERNAL SUNSHINE), and Oscar nominees Cate Blanchett, Heath Ledger, Julianne Moore, and Michelle Williams. Together, Bale, Blanchett, Franklin, Gere, Whishaw, and Ledger all play Dylan at different points in his life despite Blanchett being a woman and Franklin being black. While I may think this film has a better chance at a directing nod than a writing nod, one can not leave anything out because Haynes’ talent remains untested since his nod for writing FAR FROM HEAVEN.

RENDITION – Original Screenplay by: Kelley Sane

Synopsis: When Egyptian born terrorism suspect Anwar El-Ibrahimi disappears on a flight from South Africa to Washington DC, his American wife, Isabella travels to Washington to try and learn the reason for his disappearance. Meanwhile, at a secret detention facility somewhere outside the US, CIA analyst Douglas Freeman is forced to question his assignment in an attempt to save thousands as he becomes a party to the unorthodox interrogation of El-Ibrahim.

The Buzz: A great director (TSOTSI’s Gavin Hood), a stunning ensemble cast that includes the likes of Oscar winners Reese Witherspoon and Alan Arkin, Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal, Golden Globe nominee Peter Sarsgaard, and Tony nominees Omar Metwally (MUNICH, Broadway’s SIXTEEN WOUNDED), and Bob Gunton (THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, Broadway’s EVITA and SWEENEY TODD), and a budding new writer in Kelley Sane, who previously wrote and directed the 1997 indie drag-queen film FRANCESCA PAGE. A political thriller at its best, RENDITION is not only controversial in its political theories but its use of an interracial relationship between Witherspoon and Metwally, of which the latter’s character goes missing. Not only do I find the trailer entertaining, I hold out for one stellar film, Oscar-worthy or not.

La Vie en rose – Original Screenplay by: Isabelle Sobelman & Olivier Dahan

Synopsis: The film presents a fractured and largely non-linear series of key events from the life of Édith Piaf. Although scenes often jump back and forth across decades, parts of her childhood take up much of the first part, and the movie ends with her death, and the performance of what is perhaps her signature song, Non, je ne regretted rien.

The Buzz: This film has everything going for it, including a great cast that includes rising French stars Marion Cotillard (A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT), Sylvie Testud, and Jean-Paul Rouve, Oscar nominee Gerard Depardieu (CYRANO DE BERGERAC), as well as distinguished vets like Emmanuelle Seigner, Catherine Allegret and Pascal Greggory. Foreign films have always been respected, especially those from countries like France. Only one foreign film has ever walked away with a screenplay Oscar: the 2002 Spanish import TALK TO HER, from writer-director Pedro Almodovar. The film is also a biopic of a famous singer, and those have well-exceeded throughout history, ranging from the Billie Holliday biopic LADY SINGS THE BLUES (1972) to most recently RAY (2004), WALK THE LINE (2005), and DREAMGIRLS (2006). With all the buzz the film is gathering, I would not be surprised nor angry that this film becomes foreign screenplay Oscar winner #2.

Synecdoche, NY – Original Screenplay by: Charlie Kaufman

For a synopsis and buzz report, please read my review of SYNECDOCHE, NY’s screenplay here.

What quirky comedies and heart wrenching indies will dominate Best Original Screenplay this year? Discuss it here!
 

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