I was rewatching Half Nelson the other night (and for the record, I sure did undervalue it the first time around) and there's this totally funny scene, early on, in a bar. Ryan Gosling, who plays the crackhead junior high teacher "Mr Dunne" is flirting with two girlfriends. He tells them that he's a writer. One of the girls, with a sideways glance to her friend, says "I hate words" with such vapid candor that I laughed out loud.Me, I love words.
Here are my choices for Best Original Screenplays of the year. Two of them will surely be fighting it out for the Oscar and I'll cross my fingers for the longshot hopes of two of the others.
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22 comments:
Just out of curiosity, do you know when Duck Season comes to DVD?
Great picks, by the way.
it's already on DVD. netflix has it.
I am so glad to see Half Nelson on the list. I just watched it yesterday and can honestly say that it's one of the best movies I've seen all year.
Is Half Nelson an original screenplay? It was based off of Fleck and Boden's short film with the same central story, so it, technically, is an adapted screenplay.
I would probably consider it an original screenplay too, but I'm close to nominating it in my adapted screenplay slot simply because I cannot think of many solid adapted screenplays this year (while original screenplay is loaded, as usual).
I can't believe it. I was disappointed to see your TOP 10 but that's the best original screenplay shortlist I could have imagined /well, I haven't seen "Duck season" but I bet it's great/
And best ensemble - G R E A T.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
What about "Half Nelson"? B+ would be nice.
I just can't understand why Volver isn't a lock for a Original Screenplay nod.
*bitchslaps Little Miss Sunshine and The Queen*
So, Nathaniel, 6 categories in 2 weeks.
You're not gonna finish these till Easter, aren't you?
You have like 40 categories to go, possibly more. I don't like to count on a whim.
In the immortal words of Mr. Burns (coughs):
"Get back to work before I have you all sold to the Ayatollah!"
What about The Fountain for runner-ups? Or is that intentional?
Even I would say that The Fountain's screenplay is not its strong point, and I think it's the best film of the year. Still, I'd be curious to know whether Nat's snub was intentional, or if he just forgot it.
Glad to see Little Miss Sunshine on your list. I thought you'd snub it since everybody thinks it's just an actor's movie and a lot of people have issues with the writing (*cough*Ali*cough*), but the writing has to be good enough for the actors to do what they do with it. I give it props. Still don't know why you don't give the film any higher grade than a B, though. Meh.
OK, well, I see how that it's your very highest B, though. That makes me feel somewhat better.
MY NOMINEES FOR THE BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY OF 2006:
BABEL - Guillermo Arriaga
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE - Michael Arndt
THE QUEEN - Peter Morgan
SHORTBUS - John Cameron Mitchell
VOLVER - Pedro Almodóvar
MINE (At this point):
BABEL (Guillermo Arriaga)
THE FOUNTAIN (Darren Aronofsky, Story by Darren Aronofsky and Ari Handel)
THE GOOD SHEPHERD (Eric Roth)
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE (Michael Arndt)
STRANGER THAN FICTION (Zach Helm)
Hey yeah, Nathaniel, what happened to Shortbus? It's not adapted, is it? I'd think you'd want to nominate it here...
I thought Shortbus was sure to show up here, yet it's not even an alternate?
Nice list I suppose. Haven't seen Duck Season or Half Nelson.
ATM my top 5 are Kenny, The Queen, Ten Canoes, Volver and United 93.
Thank God "Shortbus" isn't nominated. From the moment Sophie told the Jamies she can't have an orgasm I was sure how it was going to end.
I don't think the screenplay is that good, even if you love the movie.
My TOP 5: Volver, The Queen, Little Miss Sunshine, Half Nelson, Pan's Labyrinth.
" Pleasse Do not delete this urls , i need money for my child. "
Uh... hmm. Blunt. What did you do that you need to annoy bloggers with adds about "male enhancement" and anti-depressants? How much can that possibly pay?
Anyway, Donnie Darko: Best Movie Ever? Post your thoughts on the hauntingly original dark drama. I'm interested to see what you have to say.
Jake Gyllenhaal.
i don't feel the joys of shortbus or the fountain are in the writing, no.
as for half nelson i wasn't aware of the short so i guess i'll leave it as is since the imdb doesn't list it as adapted, ew lists it as original, and the campaign is 'original' --confusing. screenplay campaigns are getting as weird as "supporting" categorizations ;)
If the joys of Shortbus aren't in the writing or the directing, where are they?
In the sex?
Looks like it might get that best picture bronze medal without a writer, director, or acting nom. At least we know it probably has "best sex scene" sewn up.
well i am not of the opinion that you don't have to be one of the five best in any category to be one of the five best overall.
i figure if you are good across the aboard where other films have major peaks and valleys, you can end up ahead.
that's my theory of nomination tally for anything (not shortbus in particular) being irrelevant to what is "best" overall
True. I mean, I'm mostly kidding. But if it doesn't even merit a finalist spot in directing or a mention in screenplay at all, and also has no real standout performances, I just wonder what the love is really for, you know? I mean, there's a reason psychologically why best picture nominees have lot of nominations. You can't love a whole without loving its parts.
Same nominations in this category, except I'd replace Duck Season with Monster House.
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