ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
CODA
Screenplay by Siân Heder, Based on the Original Motion Picture La Famille Belier Directed by Eric Lartigau, Written by Victoria Bedos, Stanislas Carree de Malberg, Eric Lartigau and Thomas Bidegain; Apple
As the dominoes fall, it appears that CODA is now the favorite to win Best Adapted Screenplay at next Sunday’s Oscars. Having just won the same award at the BAFTAs and Best Picture of 2021 at yesterday’s PGA awards. In fact, my money is on CODA to win Best Film and Best Supporting Actor (Troy Kotsur) as well.
The WGA, however, is crippled by some very arcane rules which meant that “The Power of the Dog” and “The Lost Daughter”, it’s major Oscar rivals, were not eligible to be nominated. This is therefore a CODA* win.
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Don’t Look Up
Screenplay by Adam McKay, Story by Adam McKay & David Sirota; Netflix
As for the Best Original Screenplay going to what is probably the year’s Worst Original Screenplay, Adam McKay’s horribly misguided “Don’t Look Up”, I can only shake my head in disbelief.
Again, because Kenneth Branagh’s “Belfast” was deemed ineligible, this is a Don’t Look Up* win.
McKay previously won the WGA (and Oscar) for his exceptional script (adapted) for “ The Big Short”, a film I can watch again and again.
Unfortunately “Don’t Look Up” is not in this league. In fact it could be “ Short’s” antithesis. Labored instead of scintillating . Naïve instead of street smart.
That is why I don’t expect McKay’s win to make any dent in P. T. Anderson’s position as Oscar favorite for “Licorice Pizza” and Branagh’s position as Anderson’s major competition).
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