Re: Categories One-by-One: Original Screenplay
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2022 12:19 am
It's funny Sabin raises the question of the last sports-related film to win for screenwriting, when (in the best picture thread) I've analogized King Richard to Chariots of Fire as the potential "we weren't looking there" surprise winner. It's worth noting that, going into that Oscar night 1981, most people thought the competition for original screenplay was strictly between Reds and Atlantic City; people often cite Chariots' costumes win as the signal it was headed for best picture, but, for me, this was the category that jolted the evening. To return to the present: I'm not saying I've moved up to predicting King Richard here -- just that I don't think we should totally sleep on it.
Had Licorice Pizza not won BAFTA, I'd be dismissing its chances of winning almost altogether. Despite the fact it's been one of the decent success stories of the season -- a solid theatrical gross despite no stars and opening at the height of Omicron -- people have seemed determined to dismiss it from the start, and the disappointing showing on nominations day seemed to put it out of the running. But the fact is, it DID win BAFTA -- the place that foretold both winning screenplays last year; so he has to stay on the board.
If I'm honest, I'm not sure I truly WANT Anderson to win this what-amounts-to-a consolation prize. I feel like I want him to have a truly triumphant, sweep-the-boards best picture victory at some future point (with three film/director nods, he has to be considered due, and he's still young enough). If he wins this here, though, they might be less inclined to give him that...as they haven't Payne or Tarantino, despite multiple opportunities. I'd still be happy for PTA were he to win, but a bit ambivalent.
Anyway, however much the BAFTA win seemed a positive sign for a Licorice Pizza win, the loss at WGA to Don't Look Up was an equal downer. I seem to run opposite to many here when it comes to McKay: I thought The Big Short was wholly deserving of its screenplay win, and, though I thought Vice a lesser effort, I didn't think it was nearly the horror many seemed to find it. Don't Look Up, though, struck me as not nearly as clever as it thinks, and, bottom line, just not funny enough. I'd truly be surprised were this to win Sunday night.
Belfast is no great shakes, and is probably a bit better directed than it is written. But it's a 7-times-nominated best picture contender, and the work of a guy who's been around for nearly 35 years -- sometimes riding high, sometimes eating dirt. And it's a generally inoffensive film, which, weirdly, seems to be what some are craving this year (to judge by the CODA-mania).
My bottom line: McKay already has his; Anderson will get his ultimately; this might be the last best chance for Branagh, who's been nominated over and over without result. I think he gets his gold watch this time around.
Had Licorice Pizza not won BAFTA, I'd be dismissing its chances of winning almost altogether. Despite the fact it's been one of the decent success stories of the season -- a solid theatrical gross despite no stars and opening at the height of Omicron -- people have seemed determined to dismiss it from the start, and the disappointing showing on nominations day seemed to put it out of the running. But the fact is, it DID win BAFTA -- the place that foretold both winning screenplays last year; so he has to stay on the board.
If I'm honest, I'm not sure I truly WANT Anderson to win this what-amounts-to-a consolation prize. I feel like I want him to have a truly triumphant, sweep-the-boards best picture victory at some future point (with three film/director nods, he has to be considered due, and he's still young enough). If he wins this here, though, they might be less inclined to give him that...as they haven't Payne or Tarantino, despite multiple opportunities. I'd still be happy for PTA were he to win, but a bit ambivalent.
Anyway, however much the BAFTA win seemed a positive sign for a Licorice Pizza win, the loss at WGA to Don't Look Up was an equal downer. I seem to run opposite to many here when it comes to McKay: I thought The Big Short was wholly deserving of its screenplay win, and, though I thought Vice a lesser effort, I didn't think it was nearly the horror many seemed to find it. Don't Look Up, though, struck me as not nearly as clever as it thinks, and, bottom line, just not funny enough. I'd truly be surprised were this to win Sunday night.
Belfast is no great shakes, and is probably a bit better directed than it is written. But it's a 7-times-nominated best picture contender, and the work of a guy who's been around for nearly 35 years -- sometimes riding high, sometimes eating dirt. And it's a generally inoffensive film, which, weirdly, seems to be what some are craving this year (to judge by the CODA-mania).
My bottom line: McKay already has his; Anderson will get his ultimately; this might be the last best chance for Branagh, who's been nominated over and over without result. I think he gets his gold watch this time around.