Another big precursor helped shed some light on the screenplay races today. The Writer’s Guild of America provided their choices for the best screenplays of 2019. Several big surprises found their way into the hunt, with Knives Out, Booksmart, and Joker finding traction. A nomination here goes a long way towards a nomination in a screenplay category at Oscar, and should be seen as a big win.
However, there is a word of caution. Some films were deemed inelligible for various reasons. For example, Quentin Tarantino and Lulu Wang were not snubbed for Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood or The Farewell. Additionally, The Two Popes was classified in the Original Screenplay category here, while at Oscar it will compete in the weaker Adapted Screenplay race. This means that you should refrain from simply using this group as the basis of your predictions. Still, they provide an excellent look at how the industry views the films in question.
Check out the full list of nominees below!
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
1917, Written by Sam Mendes & Krysty Wilson-Cairns; Universal Pictures
Booksmart, Written by Emily Halpern & Sarah Haskins and Susanna Fogel and Katie Silberman; United Artists Releasing
Knives Out, Written by Rian Johnson; Lionsgate
Marriage Story, Written by Noah Baumbach; Netflix
Parasite, Screenplay by Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin Won, Story by Bong Joon Ho; Neon
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Written by Micah Fitzerman-Blue & Noah Harpster, Inspired by the Article “Can You Say…Hero?” by Tom Junod; TriStar Pictures
The Irishman, Screenplay by Steven Zaillian, Based upon the Book I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt; Netflix
Jojo Rabbit, Screenplay by Taika Waititi, Based on the book Caging Skies by Christine Leunens; Fox Searchlight
Joker, Written by Todd Phillips & Scott Silver, Based on Characters from DC Comics; Warner Bros. Pictures
Little Women, Screenplay by Greta Gerwig, Based on the Novel by Louisa May Alcott; Sony Pictures
DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY
Citizen K, Written by Alex Gibney; Greenwich Entertainment
Foster, Written by Mark Jonathan Harris; HBO Documentary Films
The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley, Written by Alex Gibney; HBO Documentary Films
Joseph Pulitzer: Voice of the People, Written by Robert Seidman & Oren Rudavsky; First Run Features
The Kingmaker, Written by Lauren Greenfield; Showtime Documentary Films
