Oscar Prep: Original Screenplay

Original Screenplay is where the voters get to have some fun. Without having to compete with some stogy old textbook or classic of literature, voters a free get a little weird. A lot of strong choices this year.

A couple notes first:
-Each category is arrange from Most to Least likely to win by my measure.
-An '*' before the title indicates a movie that I have seen.
-I'm trying to keep the shorthand to a minimum (get it). A couple that come up though are BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts), SAG (Screen Actors Guild), PGA (Producers Guild of America, WGA (Writers Guild of America), DGA (Directors Guild of America).

Other Picks

Best Writing – Original Screenplay
Front Runner: *Her
Winner: Golden Globes - Best Screenplay, WGA - Best Original Screenplay
It has momentum on its side. The script is clever and the most unique thing about the movie is the one sentence description of it. I'm having a very hard time seeing how it doesn't win.

Dark Horse: *American Hustle
Winner: BAFTA - Best Original Screenplay
Nominee: Golden Globes - Best Screenplay - Motion Picture, WGA - Best Original Screenplay
Academy voters love David O. Russell in general and, what's this? A movie with "American" in the title winning a BAFTA? That's gotta indicate something. It been thoroughly nominated by anyone who is able to. That can only help it.

Other Nominees:
*Blue Jasmine
Nominee: WGA - Best Original Screenplay, BAFTA - Best Original Screenplay
If Oscar voters love David O. Russell, they "Glen Close in Fatal Attraction" Woody Allen. The man has a staggering 16 nominations and 3 wins for screenwriting. He's not to be dismissed. Then again, he's written nearly 50 screenplays so they aren't all winners.
*Nebraska
Nominee: Golden Globes - Best Screenplay - Motion Picture, BAFTA - Best Original Screenplay, WGA - Best Original Screenplay
This is the first test of whether the love of Alexander Payne directed scripts are contingent on him also writing the script since this is his first time only directing.
*Dallas Buyers Club
Nominee: WGA - Best Original Screenplay
More power to Focus features on securing so many nominations for this little indie that could. They'll have to be happy with just the nomination though.