Best Adapted Screenplay

District 9, Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell

An Education, Nick Hornby

In the Loop, Simon Blackwell, Armando Ianucci, Ian Martin, and Tony Roche

Precious, Geoffrey Fletcher

Up in the Air, Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

In the Loop received no other nominations, so it’s first on the chopping block. District 9 and An Education may be Best Picture nominees, but they are eclipsed by the “real” Best Picture nominees in this category, Precious and Up in the Air. Their face-off in the Supporting Actress category is an easy win for Precious, which is more of an actors’ showcase, but here Up in the Air will triumph, as the more writerly achievement; this is the film’s best shot at winning, and I don’t think voters will let it get shut out. Jason Reitman, like Jeff Bridges, will out-Oscar his dad.

Prediction and Personal Pick: Up in the Air, though I didn’t see District 9 or In the Loop.