top of page

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

This category became controversial when Barbie was deemed "Adapted" from Mattel's original characters. So all of you who played with these dolls as kids (or still do -- no judgement here) and deemed Ken just a vapid but hot eunuch should rush the stage at the Dolby Theater and demand a co-statue. #imwithherbutnotherhusband

  • Christopher Nolan and friend, Oppenheimer

    • Likely to win, but this is a true story. The movie was made great by acting, directing and editing. I think this one should go elsewhere.

  • Tony McNamara, Poor Things

    • I have to go back and read the book now. Yes, yes, my intellectual friends, I know that's the wrong order. But I am a guy who said "I'm going to read all of Shakespeares works by the time I turn 40" and for the last two decades, everytime I think I should start on a new play, instead I put on the Monty Python sketch about the guy who claims to have written all of Shakespeare's plays (and his wife and he wrote all of the sonnets -- stupid couple's thing again).

  • Greta Gerwig and friend, Barbie

    • I think this should have gone into Original Screenplay so it could lose there to Anatomy of a Fall or The Holdovers, instead of losing here to American Fiction or Oppenheimer.

  • Cord Jefferson, American Fiction

    • This is brilliant writing. It is about writing and, without revealing too much, has a great twist about writing about writing...within the writing, written by the....oh, sod it. Will you please watch this movie? It's really well done!

  • Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest

    • This is the best holocaust movie I've ever seen, and presented in a completely different way. But what made it special is the directing and cinematography and sound.

Writing (Original Screenplay)

Worst Dialogue - Kingsman Secret Service

  • Bradley Cooper, Maestro

    • I'm impressed that local boy and fellow Philly sports fan, Mr. Cooper, has so many talents. I do wonder if he isn't trying every category he can think of to win an Oscar. Who do you think you are, a 76ers general manager? Be patient, Brad. It'll happen.

  • Justine Triet & Arthur Harari, Anatomy of a Fall

    • A brilliant story that hints at a twist from the very beginning, but still surprises. And in a murder mystery, it is the writing (along with Sandra Huller's acting) that carries the day.

  • David Hemingson, The Holdovers

    • First Christmas movie to get a Best Picture nod since Miracle in 1947, the writing (along with brilliant acting by Paul Giamatti and Da'Vine Joy Randolph) was the reason. I would not at all be upset to see an upset in this category.

  • Celine Song, Past Lives

    • Not enough people saw this film. Go remedy that. If you like people stories and love stories, this is for you. Get over the subtitles -- you can crunch louder with the popcorn, since you're basically reading.

  • Samy Burch & Alex Mechanik, May December

    • Surprised this didn't get any other noms, particularly since it's a story we all knew (Mary Kay Letourneau, the California teacher who raped her 12-year-old student and later had his baby while she was serving her jail sentence) and it had a great cast. I'd make a "sleeper" sex joke here, if this wasn't such a tragic story. 

Back to the Future
AI Writer.jpg

I'm afraid I can't write like that, Dave.

Oh, and you're all fired.

bottom of page