Earlier today saw the announcement of the Writers Guild of America‘s nominations for Best Original, Adapted, and Documentary Screenplay for 2013. Of the major guilds (Producers Guild, Directors Guild, etc.), these are usually the awards taken the least seriously due to their silly rules that exclude several of the top contenders each year. This year, major casualties of their rules included 12 Years a Slave (which is on the fast-track to winning the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar), Philomena, and Fruitvale Station. However, this wouldn’t be the first time a disqualified screenplay has gone on to win an Oscar, as we’ve seen previously with Django Unchained and The King’s Speech.
The exclusion of some of these nominees has led to a bit of randomness in their selections, particularly in the Adapted Screenplay category, where we find surprises like August: Osage County and Lone Survivor, two films that were of pretty poor quality. If their ridiculous rules were not in place, we’d be seeing two different nominees in their stead, so don’t be surprised when these don’t show up in the Oscar nominees. Another surprise was found in the Original Screenplay category, where Dallas Buyers Club has been nominated over the Coen Bros.’ Inside Llewyn Davis. Other than these few unexpected additions, the nominees were pretty much what most thought would be there, including several films that you certainly can expect to see on the Academy’s lists.
The Writers Guild of America award winners will be announced on February 1st.
What do you think of the nominees? Check out the complete list below and let us know in the comments!
(Source: The Playlist)
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
American Hustle, Written by Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell; Columbia Pictures
Blue Jasmine, Written by Woody Allen; Sony Pictures Classics
Dallas Buyers Club, Written by Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack; Focus Features
Her, Written by Spike Jonze; Warner Bros.
Nebraska, Written by Bob Nelson; Paramount Pictures
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
August: Osage County, Screenplay by Tracy Letts; Based on his play; The Weinstein Company
Before Midnight, Written by Richard Linklater & Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke; Based on characters created by Richard Linklater & Kim Krizan; Sony Classics
Captain Phillips, Screenplay by Billy Ray; Based on the book A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea by Richard Phillips with Stephan Talty; Columbia Pictures
Lone Survivor, Written by Peter Berg; Based on the book by Marcus Lutrell with Patrick Robinson; Universal Pictures
The Wolf of Wall Street, Screenplay by Terence Winter; Based on the book by Jordan Belfort; Paramount Pictures
DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY
Dirty Wars, Written by Jeremy Scahill & David Riker; Sundance Selects
Herblock – The Black & The White, Written by Sara Lukinson & Michael Stevens; The Stevens Company
No Place on Earth, Written by Janet Tobias & Paul Laikin; Magnolia Pictures
Stories We Tell, Written by Sarah Polley; Roadside Attractions
We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks; Written by Alex Gibney; Focus Features
