Best Adapted Screenplay

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Eric Roth and Robin Swicord
Doubt, John Patrick Shanley
Frost/Nixon, Peter Morgan
The Reader, David Hare
Slumdog Millionaire, Simon Beaufoy

The Writers’ Guild didn’t nominate The Reader, so David Hare is out. John Patrick Shanley already has a screenplay Oscar, and I don’t think he’ll pull a repeat as the only non-Best Picture nominee in the race. Eric Roth is not only a former winner, but many contend that Benjamin Button is just a rehash of his Forrest Gump screenplay. (The joke in Hollywood is that he already won for this movie 14 years ago.) Peter Morgan might pick up some sympathy votes from those who think he was robbed for The Queen, and Frost/Nixon proved once again he has a knack for finding the human drama in political scandals. Still, it’s hard to imagine any film being able to knock out Slumdog. The movie is unstoppable, and a win from the WGA awards is the best indication that the Writers’ branch of the Academy will carry the film to major victories. Prediction: Slumdog Millionaire Personal Pick: Anything but Button will be fine with me. I respect the other four nominees but I’m not terribly in love with any of them.