Discuss the race for Best Adapted/Original Screenplay here.

The nominees:

Adapted screenplay
“Borat Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” (20th Century Fox)
Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Peter Baynham & Dan Mazer
Story by Sacha Baron Cohen & Peter Baynham & Anthony Hines & Todd Phillips
“Children of Men” (Universal)
Screenplay by Alfonso Cuarón & Timothy J. Sexton and David Arata and Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby
“The Departed” (Warner Bros.)
Screenplay by William Monahan
“Little Children” (New Line)
Screenplay by Todd Field & Tom Perrotta
“Notes on a Scandal” (Fox Searchlight)
Screenplay by Patrick Marber

Original screenplay
“Babel” (Paramount and Paramount Vantage)
Written by Guillermo Arriaga
“Letters from Iwo Jima” (Warner Bros.)
Screenplay by Iris Yamashita
Story by Iris Yamashita & Paul Haggis
“Little Miss Sunshine” (Fox Searchlight)
Written by Michael Arndt
“Pan’s Labyrinth” (Picturehouse)
Written by Guillermo del Toro
“The Queen” (Miramax, Pathé and Granada)
Written by Peter Morgan

Original Screenplay

Babel
Little Miss Sunshine
Pan's Labyrinth
The Queen
Volver

I really think United 93 (as I've hoped and tried to maintain from the onset) will score no nominations. It's strongest category is Directing and it doesn't look like it will score that. Almodovar WON this category in 2003 so I think Volver should at least be a shoe in. The Queen and Babel are undisputed nom favorites.

So I think it will come down to Pan's Labyrinth or United 93 or Letters. Pan's Labyrinth is the hottest thing right now, so... that's what I'm sticking to.


Adapted Screenplay

The Departed
The Devil Wears Prada
Little Children
Notes on a Scandal
Thank You for Smoking

Children of Men and Dreamgirls and Borat are the only big threats to that list. Children of Men seems like the strongest of the three but Cinematography is the one category alot of voters may place their COM support in.

SO happy I went with CoM.

And has there ever been a nominated screenplay with 5 credited writers, let alone TWO?

Every film in the category needs this win.

My rankings (I love to rank):

Adapted screenplay
1. The Departed (Warner Bros.)
Screenplay by William Monahan
2. Notes on a Scandal (Fox Searchlight)
Screenplay by Patrick Marber
3. Little Children (New Line)
Screenplay by Todd Field & Tom Perrotta
4. Borat Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (20th Century Fox)
Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Peter Baynham & Dan Mazer
Story by Sacha Baron Cohen & Peter Baynham & Anthony Hines & Todd Phillips
5. Children of Men (Universal)
Screenplay by Alfonso Cuarón & Timothy J. Sexton and David Arata and Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby

No contest. Seriosuly.

Original screenplay
1. The Queen (Miramax, Pathé and Granada)
Written by Peter Morgan
2. Little Miss Sunshine (Fox Searchlight)
Written by Michael Arndt
3. Babel (Paramount and Paramount Vantage)
Written by Guillermo Arriaga
4. Pan’s Labyrinth (Picturehouse)
Written by Guillermo del Toro
5. Letters from Iwo Jima (Warner Bros.)
Screenplay by Iris Yamashita
Story by Iris Yamashita & Paul Haggis

This race, on the other hand, is super-tight between the top two, top three if Babel has a last minute surge.

Adapted is no contest, yeah.

Original is a two-way race between LMS and The Queen...I am rooting for The Queen's win right now as it has shown more support.

The only rankings I'd change from a month ago would be LMS winning Original (But I still think The Queen could spoil) and Children of Men ranking 4th above Borat.

Predix...

Best Adapted Screenplay: The Departed
Best Original Screenplay: Little Miss Sunshine

I wouldn't rule out The Queen for Original Screenplay though. Peter Morgan seems to have become an 'it' personality in Hollywood.