originalscreenplay2003

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Best Original Screenplay

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PICTURE

THE FIVE NOMINEES:

THE WINNER:

MY BIG FAT
GREEK
WEDDING
NIA VARDALOS

FAR
FROM
HEAVEN
TODD HAYNES

GANGS OF
NEW YORK
KEN LONERGAN, S.
ZAILLIAN, JAY COCKS

Y TU MAMA
TAMBIEN
ALFONSO & CARLOS
CUARON

TALK
TO HER
PEDRO ALMODOVAR

FOR IT:

The most acclaimed
film of the year had
everything
pitch-perfect thanks
to its auteur.

The most lauded import
of the year. It's ineligible
for the foreign film Oscar,
but drew enough raves to
make it a competitor here.

The other great foreign
film of 2003.
Almodovar had the
critics in his pocket
since the pic opened.

The biggest indie movie
of all time made
writer/star Nia Vardalos
the real Cinderella at this
year's Oscar ball.

It's aligned with a Best
Picture nominee, and that
never hurts. All three of
these writers are past
nominees.

Was the writing the
strongest element of the
film? Probably not, and
rewritten scripts rarely
win in this category,
anyway.

THE LOWDOWN:

"Talk to Her" wins as predicted. Pedro Almodovar is now a two-time Oscar winner, having also taken home the Best
Foreign Film prize for 1999's "All About My Mother." Spain must be beet-red for not selecting "Talk to Her" as its
official foreign film entry this year. "Far From Heaven," unfortunately, goes home emtpy-handed, with its loss in this
category sealing its fate. Thankfully, Nia Vardalos doesn't win for an average -- and by no means awardworthy --
screenplay.

DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT THIS YEAR:

NARC
JOE CARNAHAN
If marketed well, this
film could be a player
for significant awards.

IGBY GOES DOWN
BURR STEERS
Great reviews welcomed this
coming-of-age tale upon its
release, but it's a tight category.

PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE
P.T. ANDERSON
Though it didn't exactly ignite the
box office, it was an expertly
executed, quirky treat.

ANTWONE FISHER
ANTWONE FISHER
This inspirational yarn was
surprisingly shut out of most
precursor attention.

ONE HOUR PHOTO
MARK ROMANEK
The unsettling dialogue was
downright eerie; Robin Williams'
delivery made it come to life.

8 MILE
SCOTT SILVER
Unanimous critical approval
was bestowed upon it, but will
Eminem get all the attention?

SIGNS
M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN
Some felt there were too
many plot holes; it had
great box office, regardless.

ROGER DODGER
DYLAN KIDD
It couldn't sustain early
buzz throughout the entire
awards season.

ORIGINAL PREDIX 4/12/02... FULL FRONTAL - HOLLYWOOD ENDING - SHAPE OF THINGS - DAVID GALE - TADPOLE*
LABOR DAY PREDIX 8/25/02... FAR FROM HEAVEN - PUNCH-DRUNK* - Y TU MAMA - PHOTO - LOVELY & AMAZING
EARLY SEPT. PREDIX 9/3/02... FAR FROM HEAVEN - PUNCH-DRUNK* - Y TU MAMA - PHOTO - SIGNS
LATE SEPT. PREDIX 9/19/02... FAR FROM HEAVEN - PUNCH-DRUNK* - Y TU MAMA - IGBY - SIGNS
EARLY OCT. PREDIX 10/6/02... FAR FROM HEAVEN - PUNCH-DRUNK* - Y TU MAMA - IGBY - SIGNS
HALLOWEEN PREDIX 10/31/02... FAR FROM HEAVEN - PUNCH-DRUNK* - Y TU MAMA - ANTWONE FISHER - SIGNS
NOVEMBER PREDIX 11/18/02... FAR FROM HEAVEN - PUNCH-DRUNK* - Y TU MAMA - ANTWONE FISHER - 8 MILE
EARLY DEC. PREDIX 12/6/02... FAR FROM HEAVEN* - PUNCH-DRUNK - 8 MILE - ANTWONE FISHER - GANGS
LATE DEC. PREDIX 12/19/02... FAR FROM HEAVEN* - PUNCH-DRUNK - Y TU MAMA - ANTWONE FISHER - GANGS
EARLY JAN. PREDIX 1/7/03... FAR FROM HEAVEN* - PUNCH-DRUNK - Y TU MAMA - GREEK WEDDING - IGBY
LATE JAN. PREDIX 1/20/03... FAR FROM HEAVEN* - PUNCH-DRUNK - Y TU MAMA - GREEK WEDDING - GANGS
FINAL PREDIX 2/2/03... FAR FROM HEAVEN* - PUNCH-DRUNK - Y TU MAMA - GREEK WEDDING - TALK TO HER

All the buzz left, but
Haynes could still
reap a consolation
win. Or is that
impossible, too?

FOR IT:

AGAINST IT:

If voters are in the mood
to honor a Spanish
screenplay, they'd likely
choose "Talk to Her"
since it has a Best
Director nod.

FOR IT:

AGAINST IT:

Another of 2003's
critical darlings, "Far
From Heaven," has its
strongest chance here,
so "Talk" may sit it out.

AGAINST IT:

As a literary sample, it's
rather average. The
mere nomination is
recognition of Vardalos'
success. That's enough,
thanks.

AGAINST IT: