Oscars 2022 – Best Original Screenplay

Tonight’s the night. The dresses, the glamour, the tension, the speeches, the silliness, the heartwarming moments… it’s all happening tonight at the Academy Awards.

Last week I talked about why I think CODA deserves to win the award for best adapted screenplay. This week, let’s look at the best original screenplay nominees:

--Belfast by Kenneth Branagh

--Don’t Look Up by Adam McKay & David Sirota

--King Richard by Zach Baylin

--Licorice Pizza by Paul Thomas Anderson

--The Worst Person in the World by Eskil Vogt & Joachim Trier

This one is a tough call for me. The predictions are pretty much going with Licorice Pizza—but it actually left me a bit cold. It seemed disjointed and forced at times—though fun, at others. But it’s not the best original screenplay in my book. And if it wins I think it will be because Paul Thomas Anderson is this quirky director who’s beloved in the community and, as he won’t be getting best director, people might vote for him to get the screenplay award as a kind of consolation.

For me, the contest is between Belfast and King Richard. Do you see a pattern? Do I like stories with a heart to them? Stories about people who start out from a simple background and go on to achieve great things? Guilty.

Take a look at the trailer for Belfast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja3PPOnJQ2k

Does this film bring the Irish “troubles” to light just for the sake of focusing on those war-torn times? No. It tells the story of how these times affect one family. It’s not about the war—it’s about the effect of that war on one family and on the choices they must make. And it’s FULL of one-of-a-kind characters—no stock types here. I loved this film.

Now take a look at the trailer for King Richard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFgpHSNPqk0

Against all odds, this father and mother bring up their kids to be special. They’re not rich, they don’t live in the ‘right’ part of LA, and yet they really nurture their kids. And this film tells the story of two of their daughters—Venus and Serena—who become international tennis stars. But it’s not a ‘sports’ movie—it’s a family movie about striving to be the best and do the best you can. A terrific film.

I find it hard to choose between the two, but in the end, I have to go with Belfast. It’s just such an amazing recreation of one block in Belfast and how the war affected one family in particular on that block. And I don’t think there’s a false moment in this screenplay. Not an easy feat for a writer.

So that’s my pick—Belfast—and remember last week’s pick was CODA. So tune in and see if I got either right—I tend to doubt it—I’m usually NOT right about this stuff when it comes to awards.

Next week, let’s look at what actually DID win!

Copyright © Diane Lake

27Mar22

Email Diane a question to Diane@DianeLake.com