Oscar predictions 2013: Best Adapted Screenplay

 

The possible contenders up for this years Best Adapted Screenplay Ocsar is what I'm taking a look at today. For me, the best writing categories in the past have sometimes been given to the film that should have won best picture but wasn't necessarily the safest option, making this category a bit more interesting. The award had been previously won by The Social Network and The Descendants. But who could win this year?

 

Tony Kushner, John Logan and Paul Webb's collaborative work on the script for Lincoln has been gaining widespread critical acclaim, shooting to the top of nearly everyones prediction lists as well as being nominated and winning several critics awards. The Oscars love a period drama biopic and this one is sure to pick up a nomination and will more than likely win.

 

             

 

If Lincoln does fail, then I think the next film with a chance to take the prize will be David O. Russell's brilliant screenplay for Silver Linings Playbook. This film is smart, funny and moving. It's everything the Academy loves. Could this be the year David O Russell gets his hand on a Oscar? I hope so.

 

              

 

William Nicholson does a fantastic job at adapting Les Miserables. It's a huge feat to adapt something like a stage musical that is so well loved and will of course be scrutinised by fans and critics alike. Nicholson's work has won rave reviews and although I don't think Les Miserables will win this one, I do believe it will be honoured with a well deserved nomination.

 

 

The Life of Pi is an amazing book which many people couldn't begin to imagine could be adapted into a movie and done well. But David Magee manages to do the book justice; even the author has expressed his happiness with it. But has the director's visual flair outshined it's script, costing it this award? More than likely.  

 

 

Argo, one of the big films of the year will more then likely get a nomination for screenwriter Chris Terrio's great work here. But despite a lot of early buzz, its chances of winning seemed to  diminish over the last month as more front runners emerged. I don't think it will win but if it does I'd be happy. Of course it might not even get nominated. In it's place could be Lucy Alibar & Benh Zietlin's well received work on Beasts of the Southern Wild or Ben Lewin's screenplay for The Sessions, which has made it's way onto many peoples predictions list.  

 

I'd like to see Stephen Chbosky get a nomination for his adaptation of his own book, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but I don't think he has much of a chance, along with Anna Karenina by Tom Stoppard, who started off as a strong contender but whose momentum seems to have been lost since people saw the film, sorry mate. 

 

Right then, here are my predictions for Best Adapted Screenplay:

 

1. Tony Kushner, John Logan and Paul Webe - Lincoln.

 

2. David O. Russell - Silver Linings Playbook.

 

3. William Nicholson - Les Miserables.

 

4. David Magee - The Life of Pi.

 

5. Chris Terrio - Argo.

 

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? Or have I forgotten someone you think should be nominated? Let me know.