When I surveyed the rather weak field of original screenplay contenders two weeks ago, one of the contenders I mentioned was Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell’s “District 9,” my assumption being that the vast departures from the original short film “Alive in Joburg” would be enough to warrant such a classification.
I guess I was wrong.
Screeners of the film have hit the doorsteps of awards voters this week and one of the categories listed is — yep, Best Adapted Screenplay. Which means not only is the original field even thinner, but the adapted field just got a little tighter. Some have scoffed at the idea of “Star Trek” being a player here, but what about “District 9,” one of the biggest surprise hits of the year?
Comments
15 responses to “‘District 9’ an adapted screenplay after all”
I think this really hurts the chance of District 9 competing in a writing category.
Dammit! But it is certainly a more likely nominee than Star Trek. Writers will probably hold Transformers 2 against Orci and Kurtzmann when considering Star Trek.
Wonder what the screenplay even reads like, since so much of the dialogue was improvised…
Improvisation doesn’t necessarily hurt it, as Mike Leigh has Screenplay nods.
Well this helps Bright Star’s chances. She is a previous winner in this category.
As if there ever was any doubt this would be in the ‘Adapted’ category. I mean that seriously. If it’s got any connection at all to a previous work the Academy will always force it to this category, no matter how strong or weak this connection really is.
Like sequels.
Maxim: Don’t be a smart ass. There was plenty of room for doubt. Your confidence begs the question: Syriana?
Right, thought so.
Kris…did you finally have a enough of Guy and send him packing??
I haven’t seen any articles by him in the last little while on the site…
wrong decision… District 9 could very well end up nominated in the original screenplay category (I was predicting it), but will have almost no chance in adapted (it’s too crowded).
David: Ha, Kris will never get rid of me that easily! I’m doing a bit of work in Paris, so haven’t been able to check in here for a few days. Normal business resumes tomorrow.
Maxim: Let me add “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” to Kris’s statement.
Anyway, I think this is the right classification.
I wasn’t predicting it to make the cut for Original Screenplay so I’m not going to predict it’ll make the cut for Adapted either. It’s a really terrific screenplay though, it certainly felt like one of the most unique films in a good long while, a genre alien film slash political allegory. I’d certainly be happy to see it nominated but I have a hard time thinking it can happen, even less so now.
If “The Lovely Bones” -is- this year’s “Revolutionary Road”, then I can see it getting the fifth slot after “Air” (predicted winner), “Precious”, “Education”, & “Single”.
SHAAARK- Writers will probably hold Star Trek against Orci and Kurtzmann when considering Star Trek.
You’re not funny at all, Chad. If 95% of most intelligent filmgoers consider Trek to be a good movie, the Academy is likely to agree. But just because it’s good, doesnt mean they’ll nominate it.