WGA Nominees Miss Some of the Year's Best

A few omissions from the Writers Guild of America nominees make you wonder if some rule changes aren't about overdue. For example, Inglourious Basterds and Fantastic Mr. Fox aren't nominees because they're both ineligible, and the same goes for Up, District 9, and An Education. The Academy Awards won't have these restrictions, although there are still rules that exclude some films there, too. I don't believe any of the ones mentioned above would be out of the running for those reasons, though. So instead, our nominees include Crazy Heart, which is a solid script but nothing too memorable, Julie & Julia, and The Hangover, a surprising but rewarding inclusion. It wouldn't be there if Tarantino were allowed to the party, however. Adapted Screenplay
Crazy Heart (Scott Cooper)
Julie & Julia (Nora Ephron)
Precious (Geoffrey Fletcher)
Star Trek (Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci)
Up in the Air (Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner) Original Screenplay
(500) Days of Summer (Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber)
Avatar (James Cameron)
The Hangover (Jon Lucas, Scott Moore)
The Hurt Locker (Mark Boal)
A Serious Man (Ethan Coen, Joel Coen) Documentary
Against the Tide (Richard Trank)
Capitalism: A Love Story (Michael Moore)
The Cove (Mark Monroe)
Earth Days (Robert Stone)
Good Hair (Lance Crouther, Chris Rock, Chuck Sklar, Jeff Stilson)
Soundtrack for a Revolution (Bill Guttentag, Dan Sturman) Perhaps you remember me positing the theory that Invictus would join Nine on the outside looking in. Nine won't get any major nominations, except possibly for the beguiling Marion Cotillard or Dion Beebe's cinematography. Oh, the tacked-on Best Song category; I forgot about that. But Invictus getting no love from the WGA could be a real setback. To my knowledge, it was eligible for this year's award and just didn't make the cut. If that's the case, the only things keeping it afloat are the reputations of Eastwood and Freeman. I still have this feeling that Invictus won't be among the ten Best Picture nominees. The WGA Awards will be doled out on Saturday, February 20th.

Comments

[Josh]

Maybe I missed it, but what makes a film ineligible?

[Get The Big Picture]

Different reasons, most of them silly. District 9 wasn't written by WGA writers, Nick Hornby (An Education) is WGA, but doesn't affiliate with his local branch in the UK, which is a new rule (insert eye roll here). The animated omissions are because the animated companies don't sign contracts with that guild.

As for Tarantino, believe it or not, he's not a member of the Writer's Guild. That means he doesn't have to write his screenplays to meet the WGA's Minimum Basic Agreement.

[Josh]

Wow. Seems like some petty rules and requirements. Can't they acknowledge good screenplays, no matter where they originate from? Granted, most of the list is fairly good, but the rules just take away from whatever impact the list (and following awards) could have.

[wtf]

So they go on a strike because they want more money, yet they don't want to recognize good writers?

[Ramsay]

They aren't members of the guild, so they won't recognize them. It seems pretty straightforward that they wouldn't want to, since its all about self promoting anyway. I'm not even saying that it is unfair. QT doesn't want to be a member because he doesn't want to be held to any standards, therefore his film won't get nominated for a WGA. Most of the people that have seen the movie know that the script is very well written so neener neener neener!

[JB.]

Wonderful post... Very informational and educational as usual!

Acai Optimum

[Human Growth Hormones]

I like your blog layout. I wish I could have enough knowledge to modify my default template too. It look slike you spend sufficient time on your blog too to come up with great information like. It’s a Must read.

[Online Forex Reviews]

It’s an amazing page. Nice one!!!