WRITERS GUILD AWARDS
Best Original Screenplay
Her, Written by Spike Jonze
Best Adapted Screenplay
Captain Phillips, Written by Billy Ray
Best Documentary Screenplay
Stories We Tell, Written by Sarah Polley
Best New Series
House of Cards
Comedy Series
Veep
Drama Series
Breaking Bad
Episodic Comedy
“Hogcock!” (30 Rock), Written by Jack Burditt & Robert Carlock; NBC
Episodic Drama
“Confessions” (Breaking Bad), Written by Gennifer Hutchison; AMC
Variety Series
The Colbert Report
Animation
“A Test Before Trying” (The Simpsons), Written by Joel H. Cohen; Fox
Children’s Episodic & Specials
“influANTces” (A.N.T. Farm), Written by Vincent Brown; Disney Channel
Videogame
The Last Of Us, Written by Neil Druckmann; Sony Computer Entertainment
Long Form Adapted
Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight, Written by Shawn Slovo
Daytime Drama
Days of Our Lives
Quiz and Audience Participation
Jeopardy!
Screen Laurel Award for Screenwriting
Paul Mazursky
Paul Selvin Award
Alex Gibney, The Story of Wikileaks
Claudiu,
Thankyou for enligyhtening me i so relieved that the writers guild were not motivated by a discriminative agenda which would have been nothing short of shameful disgrace if they did…hmmm in light of that well i concede i still think Captain Philips will be a potent contender but maybe…we see
No worries! I should, however, say that the script for 12 Years had the most impact on me of any movie last year and I find it to be pretty much perfect. 🙂
“The Writers Guild of America has acknowledged that John Ridley’s (above) script for “12 Years a Slave” was ruled ineligible for WGA awards consideration because Ridley resigned from the guild during the bitter 2007-08 strike.”
Err I may have missed something why was slave ineligible for the WGA? Sorry guys i was wrong on that front but i stand by my praise for Captain PHillips where i personally feel that script has more impact on audiences than “Slaves”.
“It’s actually 73˚F here; it’s quite nice.”
Wow! Where is that? We’re almost freezing inside the house (fire going) over here… Well, it’s been better the last couple of days, but it was like that 3-4 days ago!
“The point, though, is that you seem to think that because there isn’t a complicated story or big ensemble of actors in Gravity that the Academy won’t vote for it – based on precedent. I’ll agree that a Best Picture win for it would be unprecedented, for formal and stylistic reasons, but it would be quite precedented for a PGA and DGA winner to take Best Picture. And with 10 nominations, I see no reason to think that the Academy won’t vote for it, especially considering that it’s the frontrunner for the Directing trophy.”
I see plenty of reasons why they might not vote for it, some of which you acknowledge yourself in this very paragraph (weak screenplay, too few actors, not their favorite genre).
As to the other thing – it’s also most certainly not unprecedented for a PGA+DGA winner to LOSE Best Picture. There’s actually quite a bit MORE precedent for this than for a movie winning without a screenplay nomination (since 1989, when the PGA gave out its first BP award). Same goes for no SAG Ensemble nomination, even though the screenplay snub itself would have been sufficient to keep Gravity from being the statistical favorite.
Not to mention that there’s never been a showdown between a PGA+DGA winner and another PGA winner before. No, there are lots of reasons for Gravity to lose – in my view, quite a few more than there are for it to win. I mean, come on – it’s not come out ahead of 12 Years a Slave for any major BP prize so far this year!…
“There are two excellent films in play, and American Hustle is not one of them.”
I agree.
“Its WGA loss simply says to me that it’s the weakest of the three in terms of industry support, quite apart from its lesser quality.”
Like I said, I have no problem with that argument. It may well be that way. But for me things stand like this: 12 Years a Slave is the only one DEFINITELY in the top 2 and, if it does lose, it won’t go 0/9 and will be quite close to the winner in BP (the many BP wins this season are a big clue).
The other two, Gravity and American Hustle, could both be anywhere from 1st to 3rd at this point, and it’s very hard to decide which is where. I think AH is 2nd and Gravity is 3rd, but that’s just how I see it and I could be way off, just as those saying it’s Gravity-12YAS-AH could be way off. But I do have my arguments (see above), just as they have theirs. Both conclusions are valid – there’s no clear evidence for either side, since the guilds haven’t entirely decided matters this year.
“Good luck with that! I hope it brings you much joy on these cold winter nights!…”
It’s actually 73˚F here; it’s quite nice.
The point, though, is that you seem to think that because there isn’t a complicated story or big ensemble of actors in Gravity that the Academy won’t vote for it – based on precedent. I’ll agree that a Best Picture win for it would be unprecedented, for formal and stylistic reasons, but it would be quite precedented for a PGA and DGA winner to take Best Picture. And with 10 nominations, I see no reason to think that the Academy won’t vote for it, especially considering that it’s the frontrunner for the Directing trophy.
That’s my argument. But that being said, I don’t know what’s going to win. There are two excellent films in play, and American Hustle is not one of them. Its WGA loss simply says to me that it’s the weakest of the three in terms of industry support, quite apart from its lesser quality.
Captain phillips is my third favorite movie behind the desolation of smaug and gravity. When i see her it probably put american hustle off my list for the best films of 2013 heres my list and what it looks like now
1. Gravity
2. The hobbit dos
3. Captain phillips
4. This is the end
5. The worlds end
6. Iron man 3
7. Fruitvale station
8. American hustle
9. 42
10. Lee daniels the butler
11. Rush
12. Escape plan
13. Star trek into darkness
14. The call
15. Nebraaka
16. Bad grandpa
17. Lone survivor
18. enders game
19. Hungwr games: catching fire
20. The wind rises
Yet to see
Dallas buyers club
her
Philomeona
12 years of a slave
The wolf of wall street
The great beauty
Awesome wins:) I just saw her last week and I really liked it. Hope it wins the Oscar!
I think awards bodies like to nominate David O. Russell a lot so they can see him look disappointed when he doesn’t win.
“Well, clearly. But since you said you predicted Her to beat American Hustle here, the AH WGA loss didn’t change anything in your estimation. And yet, you say AH can now be considered a distant third.”
You clearly didn’t read my last message properly… I’ll try and elaborate, though, in case you simply didn’t understand it: I said that I can now understand, statistically speaking, why people might see it as a distant third now (because THEY thought – and perhaps rightly so, even though I didn’t – that it needed to win the WGA to stand a chance), and I think it’s become valid to think that it is 3rd, BUT THAT I STILL think it’s 2nd (perhaps farther away from 12 Years a Slave now than before the WGA – this I’m saying now), because Gravity’s problems (screenplay & SAG Ensemble snubs) are still, to me, bigger than AH not winning DGA, PGA or SAG.
Here’s the relevant quote from my previous message: “But I acknowledge that this (not winning the WGA) is a serious setback for AH and I can see the validity of considering it a distant 3rd right now, even though I, personally, still disagree with this point of view.” = Yes, it’s a setback and I can see why others might say it’s enough to move AH to 3rd (if they didn’t have it there already), but, for me, despite this setback, it’s still not a distant 3rd (or even 3rd at all). Seems pretty clear to me…
You certainly seem very eager to prove me wrong SOMEHOW, so I’m sure you’ll now find some semantics issue to cling on to, since you’ve unsuccessfully completed all of the possible logical discrepancies you might have found in my messages. Good luck with that! I hope it brings you much joy on these cold winter nights!…
Reichdome back with Avengeance:
Captain Phillips didn’t win over 12 Years, since the latter film was ineligible for the WGA, but it continuously remains the front runner for this year’s Oscar.
But I do agree with you on how people undermine Captain Phillips’ screenplay. It is a great film, in all accounts- but the raves only extended to Greengrass’ direction and Hanks’ acting- both criminally snubbed by the Academy. But it was the combination of all three that kept us glued and on the edge of our seats. Aside from the first 10 minutes of expository writing, I think the screenplay was flawless.
“Are we not IN THIS VERY THREAD discussing the WGA winners? Kind of important…”
Well, clearly. But since you said you predicted Her to beat American Hustle here, the AH WGA loss didn’t change anything in your estimation. And yet, you say AH can now be considered a distant third.
Nothing? Are we not IN THIS VERY THREAD discussing the WGA winners? Kind of important… Besides, I only said it MIGHT be a distant third now. I don’t believe it to be, as I still think Gravity’s problems with screenplay and SAG Ensemble are more important. But I acknowledge that this (not winning the WGA) is a serious setback for AH and I can see the validity of considering it a distant 3rd right now, even though I, personally, still disagree with this point of view.
Another stat I’ve just looked at: in 6 out of the last 9 years the movie with (or tied for) the most nominations did NOT win BP (1993-2003, on the other hand, features just one such exception – A Beautiful Mind). In two of those, the movie that won wasn’t even in the top 3 most nominated movies… So the trend is clearly changing since the 90s (and the 80s and 70s, which were much the same).
Since the preferential ballot has been in place, the winners were: one single most nominated movie, one tied for most nominated, one 2nd most nominated and one 5th most nominated – so all over the place… For 1934-1945 (the previous years when the preferential ballot was used) you have: five most nominated, three tied for most nominated, two 2nd most nominated, one tied for 2nd most nominated and one 3rd most nominated (Casablanca!) – so still 4 exceptions in 12 years.
The bad news for 12 Years a Slave is that only 4 movies have won BP (in the entire history of the Academy Awards) when there was a tie for most nominated and they were NOT among those involved in the tie. And it’s not happened for quite a while now… (I think Ordinary People was the last one to do it.) There are 26 such years, so that’s 15% of the time, which is not horrible but it’s most certainly not good either.
I can’t wait to see Her. I’ve only heard good things about this film and this win last night probably secure its Oscar chances.
Claudiu: “It’s not looking good for AH. It might indeed be a distant third now… This doesn’t surprise me, though…”
Really? I seem to recall you saying that Gravity was obviously a “distant third” after it won the DGA. Nothing has happened since then – what made you change your tune?
“Come on now…American Hustle lost the PGA (to two (!) films no less), the DGA and the WGA. It DID lose momentum. I don’t think a film has ever won Best Picture without at least one of those
three. Even the most recent, more memorable BP upsets in split years could pull off at least one (Shakespeare in Love and Crash got the WGA, Gladiator the PGA) and even the most notorious
late bloomer in recent memory (Million Dollar Baby) that stole the early favorite’s momentum (The Aviator), could pull off at least one of the three (in this case that was the DGA).”
Yup, and even Braveheart won the WGA. It’s not looking good for AH. It might indeed be a distant third now… This doesn’t surprise me, though; I predicted Her to win this – the only one in the top 3 categories I got right. I did a bit better in TV (5/7)…
“I commend the WGA for not taking the bait of the frontrunner ‘shoe in’ Slave”
Dude, Slave wasn’t eligible for the WGA…
Why is everyone so dismissive of Captain Phillips? What a pleasant surprise! I was almost certain that 12 Years a Slave would win what a upset!.
On the grounds the WGA majority of time in oscars long and recent history that the writing award aligns with best picture at the oscars or where it deviates like it seems this year…it takes away and undermines the ‘other favourites’ chances.
In this case 12 years a Slave…I applaud the screenwriter for Captain Phillips… a truly brilliant film and for me, It actually one of the best films this year even above 12 Years a Slave.
Oh i never mentioned that. I tipped this film to be prominent at the oscars and with a handful of respectable nominations- many in major categories i was right. Why Tom Hanks is not nominated for best actor beyond me EASILY his best performance equal with Forrest Gump.
How many films have depicted a real scenario type situation that flares into full blown crisis where both sides are desperate in the name of survival to well…survive.
How many films are there with as many twists and turns superbly and done with much detail and grit as in Captain Phillips?
Maybe most of you are upset that 12 Years a Slave did not live up to the hype for writing ey? maybe i wrong and the suddenly in a very very odd rarity the WGA will be totally outr of step with oscar? But then you have to wonder what percentage of the time in oscar history the WRITERS guild’s decision is blatantly dismissed, disregarded? answer hardly ever…only a handful of occassions in it 3/4 of a century history.
This year they have got it right. AS far as heart pounding dramas go this is the finest it is in many ways the boldest film of this year because it depicts a event both politicaly debated esp in this country about the extent to which border security/ vessel security and escorts should play a role to protect civilian fleets from piracy, boat people…it is one of the most provocative issues to engage with.
In its writing the genius of the writer is the objective approach it took…to dare to show the barbaric somali pirates view and Captain Phillips view.
And when the Seal team arrived omg it was absolutely brilliantly written!
I commend the WGA for not taking the bait of the frontrunner ‘shoe in’ Slave is still brilliant but it pacing problems take away from it writing in my view…the WGA have rejected the notion to their full credit that a ‘frontrunner’ is a shoe in and just to ‘fall into luine’ and uphold as they do 95% of the time their own guild based integrity to reject scripts with pacing issues etc, or ones that as effective as it is as moving as it is..descend into total utter distress after distressful moment each getting worse than the next. There was no range of emotional engagement experience articulated in the writing.
But to full credit of the writers of Captain Phillips- honestluy? how many contemporary semi political present day scenario based movies even earn a screenplay nomination? The writers knew there had to be characters we cared about…in order to share and feel for them big time…we learn bout the man behind the captain in Captain Phillips we learn what at stake.
But my grievance with the writing and as some have remarked it not ‘showy;’ enough…but i say more so that 12 YAS writing based on the degenrerating chain of events each being more distressing than the next…regardless wherther it bout suffering in slavery or not…i truly take my hat off to the black writers truly remarkable achievement personally for them…but the WGA again aimed for excellence and coherent execution and precision in writing, detail and experience all rolled into one.
Despite the start of 12 YAS we really only learn that this african american was not a slave…but we really do not learn much more and whatever we learn…is drowned out in sorrow, pity, distress justified this may be for the msot realistically intense depitction of slavery to date i credit performances for accelerating the dtramating events to jump right out at you rather than the script.
Captian Phillips covers the events in as much detail as the character. The writers could have only had this as a study in the consequences and perils of unguarded vessels at sea..but it was much more than that,.
Every moment every twist was laced with our understanding and genuine care for the characters on both sides of the spectrum…we are teased to dare to see the human side of the otherwise crazy pirates…before their true nature is revealed.
Therefore…one feels more deeply involved through the scripts achievement in the dramas of that character.
Though Slaves focus is centred around one of the best performances this year…and one of the best in decades for a lead role and challenging and perplexing (Slaves hope is that if it does not win for script. that it wins best actor still a chance i reckon! otherwise for a film to win 2 oswcars inc best picture i sorry it ALWAYS supposed to BE the film that wins the most oscars SHOULD win best picture..it used to be this way decades ago..what happened oscar ey? excellence tecnically in writing acting and directing = best picture or used to …
But no longer it seems…despite oscars selling of it soul for it self satisfaction more oftent han not for another film to win only 2 major oscars and that is it…is simply not good enough..
esp based on the direction of the guilds for GRavity this film is racking up that many technical guild wins plsu the DGA it could overwhelms another film even if it wins best actor screenplay.
And no i have not forgotted supportting actress looks most likely for Slave and absolutely thoroughly deserved…
But we should all commend the WGA for resisting other critics pressures and backing and sticking to their own principals.
Captian Phillips truly richly deserved and given it huge success as a blocvkbuster combined with it sheer brilliance that put criticvs in awe it is more deserving and i so glad it won everyone who questioned whether philluips deserved to or not i recommend go see the film again to see how effective and superb the writing really is!
Yeah, AMPAS is going to Her. Aside from when the Oscar winner was ineligible for WGA, the WGA winner has matched up with the Oscar winner every time in the last ten years except once: WGA awarded Up in the Air, Oscar awarded Precious.
Daniel,
Precious didn’t win the adapted screenplay Oscar over Inglorious Basterds, because they weren’t even in the same category. It was The Hurt Locker that won over Inglorious Basterds in the Original Screenplay category. I was very much torn between those two movies- Inglorious Basterds had such a great dialogue, but Hurt Locker’s narrative was just perfect in its subtle perfection. So I would have to agree with the Academy on that one.
Like many races when other factors factor into why stuff wins what it wins, the WGA seemed to go with Capt Phillips because the WGA love Billy Ray and not necessarily the actual script.
So the PGA went for 12 Years a Slave and Gravity, DGA went to Gravity, SAG went to American Hustle, and WGA went to Her and Captain Phillips? Diverse year for sure.
Murtaza – It is possible. Cate Blanchett has already won an Oscar so this time they would award the fifth time nominee Amy Adams. We saw similar scenarios before. Anything can happen..!
i hate to say it but what if they choose AMY ADAMS to honor American Hustle instead of letting it go empty handed…
Another year with an awful Best Actress Oscar.. though Amy Adams is definitely overdue and i adore her but she should win for better role and deserving performance, the kind of usually gets nominated for.
rama
Come on now…American Hustle lost the PGA (to two (!) films no less), the DGA and the WGA. It DID lose momentum. I don’t think a film has ever won Best Picture without at least one of those three. Even the most recent, more memorable BP upsets in split years could pull off at least one (Shakespeare in Love and Crash got the WGA, Gladiator the PGA) and even the most notorious late bloomer in recent memory (Million Dollar Baby) that stole the early favorite’s momentum (The Aviator), could pull off at least one of the three (in this case that was the DGA).
Bottom line : Based on precedent, American Hustle is no longer a major threat for a Best Picture victory. With its lighthearted nature (hence the comedy wins at the Golden Globe) and SAG Ensemble victory, right now it is in the league of previous BP contenders Sideways, The Full Monty and Gosford Park…well, more like just The Full Monty, because the other two pulled off one (the WGA) of the PGA-DGA-WGA trio on top of the SAG Ensemble win. The one thing that could reignite the film’s Oscar potential, would be an unexpectedly strong Bafta-showing but with fellow countryman Steve McQueen’s epic and a beloved British producer’s highly acclaimed blockbuster in the mix, there is a reason not many consider that a strong possiblity at the moment.
Unfortunately, they won’t let AH go hoje empty-handed and screenplay is the way they can honor the movie AND Russel. Not too fast, people. They gave screenplay to Precious instead of Inglourious Basterds, so I am getting ready for a disapointment there
AH has not lost its momentum
it’s hard seeing hustle going home with no oscars, so screenplay might be the best bet
or they can make it a tie with Her
Adapted Screenplay remains John Ridley’s (12 Years a Slave) to lose, he wasn’t eligible for the WGA, he IS for the Oscar. In my opinion the biggest threat is Before Midnight, giving this one to the core trio (Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke) would be the perfect way to honor the whole trilogy. Question is, will the Academy give a flying fuck about honoring the trilogy ?
Original Screenplay has now a damn strong frontrunner in Her. It won the most critics groups awards (18) and so far all major organizations went for it, although it went up against the considerably stronger BP contender and Original Screenplay nominee American Hustle at the WGA, Critics Choice and Golden Globes and it won the last one of those up against the strongest adapted contenders, too. Shockingly it isn’t nominated for a Bafta so they will be probably lazy enough to just give ANOTHER arguable win – and in consecutive year no less – to David O. Russell. They loved the film and with Her out of the way, it seems like the logical choice for them. ALTHOUGH they may think he won way too recently and give it to Nebraska or even Gravity. Not that the Gravity script would be particularly deserving, but neither was The Artist’s and they rewarded it in Original Screenplay anyway.
Quite frankly I could not be happier that Spike Jonze seems to be closer to his first Oscar than his strongest opponent, David O. Russell. I don’t think their work is on the same level this year – the ‘Her’ stript was considerably stronger and more original IMO – and I prefer Jonze’s body of work, as well. To me, his masterpieces (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Where the Wild Things Are) are more memorable and time-defying than anything Russell has ever made. Highly arguable personal opinion without doubt, but that’s why I root for Jonze because I think his script this year and his work overall deserves a first Oscar simply MORE than David O. Russell. Ironically enough the one film of his I actually liked (Three Kings) features Spike Jonze…as an actor. All right, I’ll admit I also liked Flirting with Disaster and saw great promise in both but I honestly don’t agree with the ones who believe that his Fighter-Playbook-Hustle trio proved us that he has finally ‘arrived’…to me those are good films at best and don’t even come close to greatness. That’s why I was frustrated when all three received a bunch of key Oscar nominations I could not disagree with MORE.
I’ve been saying it for a while too, but it looks like American Hustle will be the next True Grit or Gangs of New York (10 Oscar nominations and 0 wins).
Captain Phillips? You gotta be kidding. That was the most boring movie….not compelling at all, although Tom Hanks did a very good job acting…but the story was not compelling, not interesting. Hoping 12 Yrs a slave takes the screenplay.
So happy for Spike Jonze… Well deserved win. Hoping the Academy will give it to O. Russell and Warren Singer though~ Also deserving winners. Was also hoping Winter to win this for TWoWS, this Captain Phillips win might be the discrepancy between WGA and Oscars?
Personally, I’m happy for Neil Druckmann. He’s got a great, terse, nuanced script for the Last of Us, that says a lot with a very little. Very refreshing.
ditto on cpt phillips’ weak screenplay, i thought wolf of wall st was shoo in for the win
glad Stories We Tell finally got something. Go Canada!
Yup. I think AH’s Oscar BP campaign is over. Losing screenplay to an odd/offbeat story like Her over and over again means that the love affair is over. AMPAS will follow suit.
(Thanks for the clip, AD and WGA. Bad lagging, here, though [lol].)
Best Adapted Screenplay going to Phillips is quite a head scratcher to me. But overall I like this movie.
[Hustle backlash, unfortunately, is still rolling, I guess — a film that (to some people) should not win . . . . (some readers/plants here and there, a bit irritatingly so, still kept bringing up that incident, which happened donkey years ago; I guess Ms. T. couldn’t even care less now, nonetheless)] Hustle missed it again . . . . (Been rooting for the film and both writers in this category.)
Well, good for Her, though. (I can’t complain. Been enjoying some of Jonze’s efforts in both filming and music VDO projects on and off for years. Dude seems like a cool guy as well.)
If you look in the thread about this one, the ASC just went to GRAVITY. Just FYI.
Hooray for Her. Spike Jonze is finally destined for Oscar glory.
I thought Captain Phillips was a pretty bad screenplay. “The world is changing…” Really – that beat Before Midnight?
I’ll also chime in and say how happy I am that Her won another prize here. Unless the Academy completely falls for American Hustle or they feel that they “owe” one to David O. Russell, I can’t see Spike Jonze losing here. I don’t think Her is perfect, but it’s such an original and intimate film that is a clear writers showcase.
Also, I’m extremely happy that they reward video game writing as well. While film is my true love, some of the most creative and energetic stories of the past few years have come from games. I’ve heard nothing but great things about The Last of Us, but alas I only have an Xbox.
yesssssssspikejonze!!!
So very happy for Her winning! The Last of Us winning is a great way to honor the amazing story in the game. And Confessions…interesting choice. It wasn’t stronger than some of the other episodes of the final season of Breaking Bad, but every episode of that magnificent 8 part closer was better written than anything else this whole year on television.
Love it! Keep as many plates spinning as possible.
Captain Phillips??????????????? I loved it, but did it have a screenplay????? Wasn’t it the axiomatic film about EVERYTHING BUTscreenplay?
In the Oscar nominations, I would have predicted that precisely fifth out of five to win, after !2YaS, Before Midnight, Philomena and Wolf of WS.
I’ve said it before — American Hustle is gonna win ZERO Oscars.
Yeah, the guilds really are spreading it around. Things might be crazier than we think during the next month!
So incredibly happy that Her won. Now everyone can stop going on about American Hustle being the favorite, which it never was.
12 Years a Slave will win the adapted screenplay Oscar. Captain Phillips win was a surprise I was hoping for Before Midnight. I am glad Wows script did not win.
American Hustle is really dead. Did you see David O Russel’s face??LOL
Super excited for The Last of Us.
Her and Captain Phillips were so predictable. I didn’t see Stories We Told coming for a win though. I would’ve thought Dirty Wars had a chance.
love the way the guilds are spreading around their awards. Delbonnel would be perfect for the next twist.
well, so much for AH taking the Crash route (SGA/WGA/ACE). It can’t get a WGA win even when its two main BP competitors aren’t contending.
And “Stories We Tell”!!!
Captain Phillips? Are the pundits going to predict an upset??? Lol.
Haaa. AH is totally dead.
WTF? Captain Phillips? Wow, that couldn’t be more outta left field.
and CAPTAIN PHILLIPS
HER wins WGA
Jennifer Tilly was just GREAT!!!!!!
Anyone live tweeting the results tonight?