WGA Nominations
It’s important to remember that many of the film’s most lauded screenplays were NOT ELIGIBLE for this prize. Thus, Oscar could make radical changes to this lineup. It’s important to remember that when making your predictions. However, this is great news for Avatar and Star Trek. Jim Cameron may once again be King of the World.
The WGA Nominations (thanks Jeremie)
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
(500) Days of Summer, Written by Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber; Fox Searchlight
Avatar, Written by James Cameron; 20th Century Fox
The Hangover, Written by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore; Warner Bros.
The Hurt Locker, Written by Mark Boal; Summit Entertainment
A Serious Man, Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen; Focus Features
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Crazy Heart, Screenplay by Scott Cooper; Based on the novel by Thomas Cobb; Fox Searchlight
Julie & Julia, Screenplay by Nora Ephron; Based on the books Julie & Julia by Julie Powell and My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex
Prud’homme; Sony Pictures
Precious: Based on the novel Push by Sapphire, Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher; Based on the novel Push by Sapphire; Lionsgate
Star Trek, Written by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman; Based upon Star Trek, Created by Gene Roddenberry; Paramount Pictures
Up in the Air, Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner; Based upon the novel by Walter Kirn; Paramount Pictures
DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY
Against the Tide, Screenplay by Richard Trank; Moriah Films
Capitalism: A Love Story, Written by Michael Moore; Overture Films
The Cove, Written by Mark Monroe; Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions
Earth Days, Written by Robert Stone; Zeitgeist Films
Good Hair, Written by Chris Rock & Jeff Stilson and Lance Crouther and Chuck Sklar; Roadside Attractions
Soundtrack for a Revolution, Written by Bill Guttentag & Dan Sturman; Freedom Song Productions and Louverture Films
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Plainview says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:19am
A screenplay nod for Avatar here would temporarily shut people up if the movie fails to get this same nomination from the Oscar, like Titanic.
Robin says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:23am
A WGA nod wont suddenly mean I think the film was any less horrendously scripted… sorry.
Sasha Stone says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:25am
Robin, so was Titanic and it managed a WGA nod.
red_wine says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:27am
I wouldn’t read too much into a nod for Avatar. So many contenders have been disqualified that fillers are bound to creep up.
Hans says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:27am
Too bad it ain’t a done deal. I remember thinking last year, after The Dark Knight got its WGA nod, that the nod had sealed its status as a serious contender, since many argued that the writing was the weakest part of that film as well.
I’m looking forward to Star Trek hopefully taking advantage of all the ineligibilities to land a nod. Obviously it’ll be a nod with a big fat asterisk, but nonetheless, anything to raise its awards profile and hopefully help Academy
members to take it seriously as a contender.
WeinsteinHater says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:27am
hello sasha stone
big fan
but im just wonderin how much they’re payin you with your obsessive endless coverin of AVATAR?
in all honesty please?
Sasha Stone says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:32am
Weinsteinhater that is becoming a tired accusation and why should I waste my precious time defending myself against people like you? If you think I am a whore please take your business elsewhere.
Rob C says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:33am
As mentioned in another thread:
Best Pic: The Hurt Locker
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Orig Screenplay: Inglourious Basterds
Adapted Screenplay: Up in the Air
Avatar will win in the tech categories.
Robin says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:36am
Sorry, I interpreted your article as saying that a WGA nod would shut people up who dismiss the writing, I suppose you meant more in terms of its Oscar hopes… Anyway, it’ll almost certainly get in due to the lack of eligible contenders and the WGA’s tendency to lean more populist (they did nominate TDK last year), if it does miss I’d say it’s a pretty sure sign its NOT a major BP player, but it won’t make it at the Oscars regardless and that along with the lack of any acting nominations and a director who probably can’t win should give people pause before they start predicting it to win. I certainly don’t see that happening and am amazed that the current hype has hoodwinked so many, as if hype, money and a good dose of rave reviews helped a certain other blockbuster even get nominated last year…
Matthias Zucker says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:38am
Oh shut up, WeinsteinHater! is it so hard to believe that someone really, really enjoys and supports this film? I know I do, I just don’t have a blog in which to make my sentiments public.
Back on topic: Is there really a consensus that sees a spilt in which Avatar takes Best picture, but none of the othe rmajor categories? When did that last happen? As far back as I can remember, and that’s a few decades, I don’t know of any BP winner that didn’t at least have one of the following: Best Director, Screenplay or an Acting win. Since Acting (barring a miracle for Zoe Saldana) is very unlikely, and Screenplay seems out of the question given the competition, wouldn’t the most likely scenarios be that
1. Avatar does not win BP because it doesn’t have enough backing from enough branches of the Academy, or
2. That Avatar wins BP, but also takes James Cameron along to Best Director Oscar #2?
Where is this certainty coming from that Kathryn Bigelow will win BD? And don’t tell me critics awards, because they’ve been off the mark before.
Dude says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:39am
Even if “Avatar” is snubbed here it doesn’t mean that it won’t grab the nod at the Oscars. However the decisions of the Guild seem to be more liberal and careless than the Academy’s. But you are right Sasha, this will be an important recursor. If “Avatar” grabs this one it’s up for the top prize and only a “Hurt Locker” precursor sweep can change something in this matter (BAFTA, SAG Ensamble, Globe, technical guilds).
Robin says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:40am
Matthias, I believe the last film to do it was ‘An American in Paris’ in 1951. No film since the first decade has won BP without nominations for both writing or acting so far as I know.
EDIT: Seems An American in Paris won for screenplay, guess we’ll have to look even farther back…
Ziyad Abul Hawa says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:43am
Sasha, just ignore stupid people, they are really not worth your precious time.
Now, about the chances of Star Trek, well, they may not do that just as a punishment for writing the “Transformers 2″ script
Loyal says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:45am
It’s a lose/lose for Avatar today,
If it picks up the WGA, people will say its by default.
If it doesn’t pick up the WGA, people will say “look, look, see, see!!!”
Personally, I dont think a film becomes the biggest of all-time with a bad screenplay. A simple screenplay, sure. But bad, no. That’s just being silly.
Noah R. says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:46am
Sasha, do you get accused of being paid off by a studio every year?
Haha anyway I remain unconvinced by the Avatar screenplay. Not because of the dialogue — I agree that good screenplays aren’t solely down to the dialogue — but because I don’t think it holds together as a piece of writing. The main character is underdeveloped and doesn’t have any inner conflict to speak of. The stakes for him never seemed that high to me. It also takes far too long to tell a story we all know the ending to. There’s nothing wrong with retelling familiar plots if you do it well (see Star Wars: A New Hope) but Cameron takes such a long time to hit the plot points we’re all familiar with that it drags the whole thing down to a snail’s pace.
I can see why Up in the Air is doing so well in this category, however. Apparently William Goldman loves it and to me that validates why it’s such a tight screenplay. You have a great central character who has clear internal and external conflicts, he is likable without being flawless, he perfectly compliments the premise about the need for individuals to connect with others in a society that marginalizes the individual, and the film wastes very little time in telling the story. It does everything that Avatar fails to do in my opinion.
Sasha Stone says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:50am
Sasha, do you get accused of being paid off by a studio every year?
Yes. But so does everyone else who does this. It’s so dull and boring to have to re-explain every year. I should really post a FAQ I guess.
Rolando says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:51am
There are so many people here still can’t accept the fact that AVATAR is winning best picture… It’s sad because they have to exaggerate things to pull down a tremendous success… The rest of the best picture nominees are weak except for “The Hurt Locker” which is too indie for Oscars…
Sasha Stone says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:51am
Ziyad – a Star Trek nod would be way cool. Unfortunately, District 9 is ineligible, otherwise we would see a Sci-Fi threapeat: Star Trek, District Nine and Avatar.
WeinsteinHater says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:52am
[deleted] Have had enough.
Ziyad Abul Hawa says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:55am
Anyway, this year the WGA’s are irrelevant in Oscar-terms speaking right? Because all of the disqualifications.
Noah R. says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:57am
I like the idea of an FAQ.
Dawson M says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:58am
I don’t understand all the complaints about Avatar’s screenplay. I felt that it was beautifully written. While it might not be the most original script, I never felt that the screenplay was week. Sure some of the lines were cheesey, but as my brother’s girlfriend p ut it, it was fine cheese.
richard crawford says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:59am
Avatar? Best Movie? Disgusting.
Rolando says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:00am
Yeah, I don’t see the point people telling its a weak script… They cannot even do 10% of it… They don’t have the talent like Cameron’s… All that they know is to talk, talk of good for nothing analysis which will not come true…
Sofina says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:02am
@WeinsteinHater:
Darling, your writing is horrendous. Now, be a nice troll and go whine to the other sites for a change. Sasha has been extremely patient with you, but enough is enough.
bambi says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:02am
#15 “Personally, I dont think a film becomes the biggest of all-time with a bad screenplay. A simple screenplay, sure. But bad, no. That’s just being silly”
THIS!
I agree with everything you said,Loyal. Poorly scripted movies (Transformers 2) can be big, but for enduring power like Avatar`s, you need something. It may be simple but it certainly isn`t bad. Avatar script is simple but it isn`t bad. It`s very effective, actually. It`s part of the Avatar magic,and lets face it, people don`t come back to it over and over again just because visuals are great. It didn`t work for 10000+ visually stunning movies, at least not on this level, and many of them had built-in fandom to begin with,state-of-the-art effects of their time, be it last year or few years ago, or even acclaimed scripts.Yet none held as well as Avatar, save Titanic, of course, another movie with simple yet effective script.
Sasha Stone says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:06am
Weinstein hater gets deleted. I left one comment up but the rest go. We’re all too tired to be dealing, especially me.
WeinsteinHater says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:06am
Sofina, it’s just bloggin
don’t get all hyped up so early this mawnin
lady chill pill
love sasha stone
im just honest and direct
not a great writer your right
guess that makes me a bad bad bad blogger
Rolando says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:07am
Avatar’s reviews are better than Titanic… I think higher in metacritic…
CeciliaTallis says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:07am
The WGA is generally irrelevant. Too many voters and too many rules diqualifying strong contenders lead to populist, irrelevant choices that have no bearing on the quality of screenplays (look to the Titanic mention and the likely mention of Avatar today,) or their chances in the race (previous nominees like Knocked Up, and likely nominee today The Hangover.) Brilliance is consistently ignored here (snubs in just the last few years include Happy-Go-Lucky, In Bruges, Away from Her, Atonement, Notes on a Scandal, Pan’s Labyrinth and Children of Men,) while mediocrity is triumphed. I’d expect to see today:
Original
(500) Days of Summer
Avatar
The Hangover
The Hurt Locker
A Serious Man
Alternate: The Messenger
Adapted
Crazy Heart
Invictus
Julie & Julia
Precious
Up in the Air
Alternate: The Blind Side
Also, an Avatar mention won’t “shut people up” about the writing, it will just further solidify how irrelevant the WGA is.
Rolando says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:08am
Avatar is even higher than Up in The Air in metacritic… 84 vs 83… so what’s bad about it, you morons…
CeciliaTallis says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:10am
Look for the writers’ branch of the Academy, with infinitely more taste, to not mention Avatar, The Hangover, Crazy Heart, Invictus and Julie & Julia in their nominations, and instead to champion the WGA-ineligible brilliance of Inglorious Basterds, Up, District 9, An Education and Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Sasha Stone says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:11am
Cecilia, D9 and Mr. Fox and An Education and Basterds are all ineligible, believe it or not.
Clayton says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:13am
@#14, that’s a solid way to look at it. The writing is nothing special, but it isn’t bad. I think it’ll make it in the WGA race, but there are too many better, more complex screenplays eligible for the Oscar for it to make it there.
Sofina says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:16am
Sasha, do you know the timeframe when these are announced?
Hans says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:16am
“I agree with everything you said,Loyal. Poorly scripted movies (Transformers 2) can be big, but for enduring power like Avatar`s, you need something.”
Mm-hmm, and you don’t even have to be a box office expert to see what kind of holding power it has. Transformers 2 made $200 million in its opening 5-day weekend. It took the rest of its several-month run just to double that to the $402 million tally it stands at. Avatar has made over SIX times its opening weekend take in a matter of of four weeks. People don’t keep going back just for the visuals.
Jim says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:17am
I don’t know if a nod here will shut people up about the writing (I’m one of those people). I really didn’t like Avatar at all. I think Titanic is a terrible movie. And because everyone else seems to love them both so much, I do complain about them. Which doesn’t change others’ opinions or really do much of anything at all. But that won’t stop me from saying that I think everyone is blinded by the special effects and seems not to care about the lack of convincing characters, motivations, or dialogue. I just try to whine politely.
CeciliaTallis says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:17am
Sasha I think you missed my post at 30 and only saw my follow-up at 32, I am aware of the exclusions as the WGA criminally commits them every year.
Luthien says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:20am
Sasha, thank you for your wonderful work on this site. I was a regular visitor a few years back, but stopped caring about the Oscars around the time The Aviator failed to win best pic and/or director. This year, your coverage of Avatar is what made me come back. I love your unabashed love of the movie, so thank you once more!
Sasha Stone says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:22am
Sofina, I am not sure. I thought it was around 10am California time but maybe earlier, maybe later.
Thomas says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:26am
If you get so worked up about some silly questions, you probably should really consider quitting the game before you suffer a heart attack. The «Avatar» screenplay is not terrible. But it deserves no award, whatsoever. Seriously.
Marble_Plum says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:44am
Is Where The Wild Things eligible?
Sasha Stone says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:44am
Wild Things IS eligible.
Noah R. says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:53am
Rolando: You’re just as bad as WeinsteinHater. Get over it. Some people were unimpressed by Avatar. No need to be a jerk about.
el_barto says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 8:12am
Avatar is a good film. i dont mind if its nominated for best film, best director etc…
i will support an avatar nomination of the script if there was a catergory for UNORIGINAL SCRIPT…
cheesy dialogue with the last samurai meets dances with wolves in space… that would be too much…
Even the AVATAR lovers who are 99% of the people here have acknoledge the fact that the script and the dialogue was the weakest link of the film.
Gregoire says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 8:19am
The script to Avatar didn’t need to be better, did it? I’m not one to question James Cameron’s instincts. I would have preferred a richer, most sophisticated story with greater, less cliche dialogue. Yet for the intents of the movie he was making, perhaps those qualities would have distracted from Cameron’s priorities.
From the metrics he and a movie studio consider important — money and awards — he seems to be doing quite okay, isn’t he? Who’s to say that mythical ‘great script’ wouldn’t have alienated certain audiences, diminishing one of those metrics he deemed more important?
There’s movie making as an artform, then there’s movie making as a business. Cameron straddles both, and to what degree of success can only be measured by how these elements are valued by a particular movie goer.
bambi says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 8:20am
So how relevant is WGA since sure-fire Original Script nominee and likely winner IB is ineligible here?
Agley says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 8:21am
Avatar will get this one!
Chris says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 8:22am
I’m going to try to be as nice as possible but really, Avatar winning best picture? It has blue people and flying dragons. Sasha, don’t hate me, I’ve loved your site since 2000.
Matt says:
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 8:26am
I think if Avatar fails to get a writing nom from the WGA, it won’t have a shot at winning Best Picture. I currently think it’s the front-runner for Best Picture, but if it can’t manage a screenplay nod with Up and Inglourious Basterds disqualified, I think it’s toast. With nothing from the writers’ and actors’ guilds (which I would think would be the two largest components of the Academy), I think it will have a hard time pulling off the win. That being said, The Hurt Locker has made so little money that I’m not sure how it can win, either. Who knows!?!?!