While our two Best Picture frontrunners are in the adapted screenplay category, there is some tough competition at the top in the original screenplay category as well among the other three films rounding out the Best Picture top five.
Sinners
Absolutely nobody was predicting Sinners, a period vampire piece by writer-director Ryan Coogler to be in the Best Picture race early last season, and that’s a testament to just how good and original this screenplay is. In addition to Coogler’s superb work behind the camera, this movie lives and dies on Coogler’s pen, crafting a story that seamlessly blends genres into a dramatic spectacle that people are still talking about months on.
Sentimental Value
The other major contender in this category is the opposite to Sinners; Sentimental Value is another intimate foreign family drama like many others, and yet people are raving about just how deep and fully formed this script is. It may not be something wildly original, but it is the script that has the film in the upper echelon of the Oscar race, with meaty scenes giving its actors Oscar hopefuls as well.
Marty Supreme
Could there be a third contender in this category for the win? I would still bet on one of the aforementioned movies, but you can’t count out Marty Supreme, which opened to rave reviews yesterday. More attention is being focused on the performance of Timothee Chalamét but the script is also a standout and should easily slot in this group of five, if not fight its way to the top.
It Was Just an Accident
We’ve covered what are likely the top five BP contenders, but sitting right outside that group is the Palme d’Or winner It Was Just an Accdent. While more focus is on Jafar Panahi for the incredible lengths he went to in order to direct this film, it is apparently also a thrilling script with a heavy dialogue focus and a knockout ending. As we reach the bottom of the category, that should be enough to get it in, especially with most of the other Best Picture nominee options being adapted screenplays this year.
Weapons
It’s hard to tell whether I’m thinking with my head or my heart, but I’ve got Weapons rounding out my top five in this category. It’s one of the standout movies of the year, and although it isn’t typical Oscar fare, it has some attention for the script and performance by Amy Madigan. The structure of the film, shifting perspectives and slowly unfeeling this mystery one layer at a time gives this screenplay an advantage over some of the remaining competition.
Jay Kelly
We are awaiting a Netflix drop to see how general audiences respond to this George Clooney vehicle about Hollywood. It seems up the industry’s alley, but has had a bumpy rollout among critics. But if general audiences lift it up the way they have with Frankenstein, this could get back in the Best Picture conversation. And if there’s any other category for this film, it’s the script, which has received praise alongside the performances of Clooney and Adam Sandler.
Predictions
Oscars
- Sinners
- Sentimental Value
- Marty Supreme
- It Was Just an Accident
- Weapons
SAWards
- Sinners
- Marty Supreme
- Weapons
- Eddington
- Rental Family
My Five (projected)
- Sinners
- Marty Supreme
- Eternity
- Weapons
- Oh, Hi!
See all 98th Academy Award predictions below:
Best Actor | Best Actress | Best Supporting Actor | Best Supporting Actress | Best Director | Best Adapted Screenplay | Best Original Screenplay
