Best Adapted Screenplay
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PICTURE
 STAND-ALONE
THE FIVE NOMINEES:
UPDATED FEBRUARY 23
AMERICAN
SPLENDOR
SHARI S. BERMAN &
ROBERT PULCINI
SEA-
BISCUIT
GARY
ROSS
 MYSTIC
RIVER
BRIAN
HELGELAND
 CITY
OF GOD
BRAULIO
MANTOVANI
 RETURN OF
THE KING
F. WALSH, P. JACK-
SON, P. BOYENS
FOR IT:
 FOR IT:
 FOR IT:
 FOR IT:
 FOR IT:
AGAINST IT:
 AGAINST IT:
 AGAINST IT:
 AGAINST IT:
 AGAINST IT:
NO NOM THIS YEAR:
L
I
K
E
L
Y
COLD MOUNTAIN
ANTHONY MINGHELLA
Despite nominations from the
Globes and WGA, Oscar voters
saw fit to exclude it.
 MASTER & COMMANDER
P.WEIR, J. COLLE, L. FERGUSON
Surprisingly, it didn't make the WGA
shortlist -- although their noms rarely
match Oscar's 5 for 5.
SHATTERED GLASS
BILLY RAY
Some major raves from big critics
(Roger Ebert, Owen Gleiberman)
indicate that there could be hope.
 BIG FISH
JOHN AUGUST
The film falls short of greatness,
so the screenplay may not make
the grade.
WHALE RIDER
NIKI CARO
This film will only make the grade
in an effort to give Niki Caro a
consolation nod for her efforts.
M
A
Y
B
E
R
I
S
K
Y
KEEPING TRACK:

FEB 15 -- SAND & FOG  /  BIG FISH  /  HUMAN STAIN  /  COLD MOUNTAIN  /  SEABISCUIT*
JULY 22 -- SAND & FOG  /  BIG FISH  /  MYSTIC RIVER  /  COLD MOUNTAIN  /  SEABISCUIT*
SEPT 5 -- SAND & FOG  /  BIG FISH  /  MYSTIC RIVER  /  COLD MOUNTAIN  /  SPLENDOR*
SEPT 26 -- SAND & FOG  /  BIG FISH*  /  MYSTIC RIVER  /  COLD MOUNTAIN  /  SPLENDOR
OCT 19 -- SAND & FOG  /  BIG FISH*  /  MYSTIC RIVER  /  COLD MOUNTAIN  /  SPLENDOR
NOV 11 -- SAND & FOG  /  BIG FISH*  /  MYSTIC RIVER  /  MASTER & COMMANDER  /  SPLENDOR
DEC 4 -- SAND & FOG  /  BIG FISH*  /  MYSTIC RIVER  /  COLD MOUNTAIN  /  RETURN OF THE KING
DEC 15 -- SAND & FOG  /  BIG FISH  /  MYSTIC RIVER*  /  COLD MOUNTAIN  /  RETURN OF THE KING
DEC 24 -- SAND & FOG  /  SEABISCUIT  /  MYSTIC RIVER*  /  COLD MOUNTAIN  /  RETURN OF THE KING
JAN 6 -- MASTER  /  SEABISCUIT  /  MYSTIC RIVER*  /  COLD MOUNTAIN  /  RETURN OF THE KING
JAN 22 -- SPLENDOR  /  SEABISCUIT  /  MYSTIC RIVER*  /  COLD MOUNTAIN  /  RETURN OF THE KING


HOUSE OF SAND & FOG
SHAWN OTTO, VAIM PERELMAN
Support seems to be dwindling for this
drama all over the place.  DreamWorks
had better campaign hard right now...
THE HUMAN STAIN
NICHOLAS MEYERS
There seems to be an
overcrowding of prestige films
this fall, so "Stain" may fall prey.
Email this site
DIRECTOR

ACTOR
ACTRESS
SUP. ACTOR
TECH
ORIGINAL S'PLAY

SUP. ACTRESS
IN THE CUT
JANE CAMPION, SUSANNA MOORE
Generally poor reviews suggest that "In
the Cut" won't make the cut.  Too
sexual, too controversial, too bloody.
THE WINNER:
It was one of the most
critically acclaimed movies
of the year, hands down.  
This is the only place
where voters can honor it.
Esoteric films rarely score
in this category.  Even
"Adaptation" -- another
bizarre non-fictional hybrid
-- missed out on a win.
Awarding Ross
here could be a way
to award
"Seabiscuit" as a
whole.
This category is
always the most
competitive of the
two screenplay
divisions.
Helgeland handles
multiple storylines with
ease while staying
faithful to his source
material.
"City of God" shocked
many people with its
surprise inclusions; voters
may want to reward the pic
somewhere.
There's a plethora of
high-profile competition.  
One could make an
argument for any pic other
than this one winning.
It's the best overall
screenplay of the three
films, and it could be
part of a total and
complete "King" sweep.
Some may argue that it
has "third act" problems,
which would be a major
sticking point for "Rings"
detractors.
In addition to writing
the beloved "L.A.
Confidential," Helgeland
also had a hand in "A
Knight's Tale."
THE STATEMENT
RONALD HARWOOD
The film might garner acclaim,
but how often does someone win
back-to-back screenplay Oscars?