With 12 days left and 24 categories to cover, lets get started with what every film begins with... a screenplay. These two categories are never overlooked by the actors and directors, but often overlooked by the public. Dialogue, or even the lack of it, must be spelled out in the screenplay in order to convey the film's original message. Let's look at the two screenplay categories.
Adapted Screenplay
The Nominees
Argo - Chris Terrio
Beasts of the Southern Wild - Lucy Alibar and Benh Zeitlin
Life of Pi - David McGee
Lincoln - Tony Kushner
Silver Linings Playbook - David O. Russell
Each of these adaptations demonstrates its own strength and weight.
Argo moves through the rapidly unfolding events using a massive cast. Yet, it is able to stay focused on the the predicament of the "house guests" of the Canadian Embassy and the ongoing effort to deliver them. It is dialogue heavy but the words are not wasted and the script delivers palpable tension to a story that we are aware of the climax.
Beasts of the Southern Wild uses both spoken and narrated dialogue to create the picture of a very different world within our own country where folks learn to band together and survival is of the utmost importance, even while discovering our power in the humility brought on by nature.
Life of Pi uses narration throughout its film to tell a story of faith and survival. This film was perhaps most daunting a piece to adapt. Dialogue was sparse and first person narration becomes the medium through which the story is masterfully told.
Lincoln, like Argo, is dialogue heavy. This 19th century "West Wing" could have just as easily been called "13" or "The Amendment". Internal dialogue is sparse but the character of Lincoln shines through in his storytelling and passion.
Silver Linings Playbook is balanced between internal and verbal dialogue. This movie uses drama, philosophy and humor as each of its characters grow without really "overcoming" their mental health issues. The dialogue is brilliant with special emphasis paid to each disorder and how it effects the "looking glass" of the character.
I still believe the Academy will recognize the storytelling prowess of Kushner, but my pick has changed.
My Favorite: Silver Linings Playbook - David O. Russell
My Oscar Prediction: Lincoln - Tony Kushner.
Original Screenplay
The Nominees
Amour - Michael Haneke
Django Unchained - Quentin Tarantino
Flight - John Gatins
Moonrise Kingdom - Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola
Zero Dark Thirty - Mark Boal
Amour was sparse on actual dialogue and rife with internal dialogue. This made the picture more of a director's vehicle, but the dialogue that was written was powerful.
Django Unchained - Dialogue rich and bustling with wit, charm and brutality, Tarantino's script successfully fuses humor with one of the darkest times in our nation's history. A mesmerizing work of art.
Flight - The subject matter is what made this movie. Other than the lines John Goodman delivered and the trial testimony... the dialogue, both internal and external was not memorable.
Moonrise Kingdom - A chorus of dialogue, narration and situation in this race to come of age story. A brilliant yarn.
Zero Dark Thirty - The visuals and blocking in the last 90 minutes of the film made it compelling. The screenplay was not my favorite and didn't have that "I'm mad as hell" moment.
My Favorite: Django Unchained
My Oscar Prediction: Django Unchained
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