Best Adapted Screenplay

This will be the third writing nomination for the Coen brothers; they won for their original story for Fargo, they were nominated for the just-barely-an-adaption O Brother Where Art Thou, and this year they’ve racked up unprecedented accolades for adapting Cormac McCarthy’s No Country For Old Men. As with the Best Director and Picture races, No Country is the front-runner with There Will Be Blood hot on its heels; a nod is certain for this Upton Sinclair adaptation, by two-time nominee Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Magnolia). About even for third and fourth place are two biographical films that have emerged as surprise favorites in the race: the French film The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and the American Into the Wild. The last slot could go to WGA pick Zodiac, though it might be seen as too “popcorn.” Starting Out in the Evening hasn’t been able to generate support outside of the independent circuit. Actress Sarah Polley could be included as a vote of confidence for her debut film as a director and writer, Away From Her, based on an Alice Munro short story. Charlie Wilson’s War is a genuine possibility considering how many writing awards Aaron Sorkin has won for The West Wing. My money is on Atonement: The film may go belly-up in all the other top categories, but this is Best Adapted Screenplay; the category needs a handsomely polished Brit flick like a zombie needs brains.