Completed Category: Original Screenplay

 The other category that I completed by seeing The Holdovers last week was Writing - Original Screenplay. 

And in this category, I have a dilemma. You see, I loved Past Lives. I loved it, loved it, loved it.  But I don't think it was the best screenplay - that's not why. It was the feeling, the performances, the mood, and the direction. I was really hoping for Celine Song to shock everyone some people with a Directing nomination. 

Instead, she was nominated for screenplay, while... 

ANATOMY OF A FALL - Justine Triet got a Directing nomination along with her Original Screenplay nod here, which also surprised some people, mostly because she's not Greta Gerwig, but hey, people love Anatomy of a Fall. I also really liked it and would not be mad if it won here. It's talky and gives you lots to think about, both of which I generally like in movies. 

THE HOLDOVERS - You could sort of say the same for The Holdovers.  I love this misfit story quite a bit, and I might want it to win just a bit more than I'd want Anatomy... to win. I think The Holdovers also has a chance: people like it, and they might not be "able" to vote for Paul Giamatti so this would still be a vote for this film, and it's so exactly the kind of movie that gets a Screenplay nomination and I'm so okay with that. 

MAESTRO - This on the other hand?  Not as subtle or understated, and I think not as much of a chance to win this category, as Maestro was also not so much about the Screenplay as about the everything else about it, the boldness, the fantastic performance(s), the big swings it took. I think when people are thinking about the writing of words and crafting of a story, as opposed to the delivery of big scenes and big moments, they aren't going to dwell on Maestro. 

MAY DECEMBER - But May December? May be. First of all, it did not get any other nominations, despite the prognostication and the wicked good performances, and secondly, it was devilishly good. You are sort of horrified as it goes along at how dearly fucked up every character is, and it's great. It sneaks up on you. I am all for it winning here. 

PAST LIVES - And that is even above what was my favorite film in this category, Past Lives.  Taken as a whole experience, yes, this was far and away my favorite of these five. But I only put it third or fourth of these five for the Original Screenplay award. 

Order I want them to win: 
May December
The Holdovers
Anatomy of a Fall - Past Lives  (tie. I think.) 
Maestro

Order I think maybe they will win maybe: 
The Holdovers
Anatomy of a Fall (I might move this up) 
May December
Past Lives (I might move all these around, really)
Maestro

 But there's nothing terrible in this category!  That's always a plus. This will NOT be one of the times we feel like throwing something at the television on Oscars night.