The Film Experience

The USC Libraries, chaired by USC professor Howard Rodman, that began in 1988. Though they can signify strength moving into Oscar nominations, it's important to remember that they're a juried award from a college so not connected to the Oscar voting body, though perhaps Rodman himself is a member since he as once president of the WGA.

Their nominations as well as our final predictions for Oscar's Screenplay categories are after the jump...

Feature Films

Black Panther -Screenwriters Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole, based on the character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Can You Ever Forgive Me? - Screenwriters Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty and author Lee Israel
The Death of Stalin - Screenwriters Armando Iannucci, Ian Martin and David Schneider based on the graphic novel by Fabien Nury and Thierry Robin
If Beale Street Could Talk - Screenwriter Barry Jenkins and author James Baldwin
Leave No Trace - Screenwriters Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini for Leave No Trace, based on the novel My Abandonment by Peter Rock

Five nominations were chosen from a field of 90 adaptations. Some articles online have suggested that A Star is Born was snubbed but from our understanding of the USC award rules, it's strictly a "printed work" award, i.e. adaptations of novels, comic books, and non-fiction books, not adaptations of other films and TV shows. The big miss here, if we're going on Oscar buzz, is BlacKkKlansman.

Television

Assassination of Gianni Versace -Tom Rob Smith, for the episode "The Man Who Would Be Vogue,” and author Maureen Orth for the nonfiction book Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History
The Handmaid's Tale - Bruce Miller and Kira Snyder, for the episode "Holly,” and author Margaret Atwood
The Looming Tower -Dan Futterman and Ali Selim, for the episode “9/11,” and author Lawrence Wright
Patrick Melrose - David Nicholls for the episode “Bad News,” based on the series of novels by Edward St. Aubyn
Sharp Objects - Marti Noxon for the episode “Vanish” and author Gillian Flynn
A Very English Scandal - Russell T Davies, for A Very English Scandal, and author John Preston

Six nominations due to a tie (hmmm, wonder which two that was?) from 55 TV adaptations considered. The Handmaid's Tale won this category last year and is up for the prize again. We're rooting for A Very English Scandal though Gianni Versace has been hogging all the awards.

FINAL OSCAR PREDICTIONS

Adapted Screenplay. The WGA awards rarely line up exactly with Oscar due to different eligibility requirements, but as with the USC scripters they can signify strength. For my final Oscar predictions I'm going with BlacKkKlansman, Can You Ever Forgive Me, and If Beale Street Could Talk from the WGA nods and adding Leave No Trace from the USC nominations. The fifth slot is a very difficult call between three blockbusters (Black Panther, A Star is Born, and Crazy Rich Asians), and one indie (Death of Stalin). I've decided to opt for a surprise appearance by Crazy Rich Asians. It's the best opportunity to reward it anywhere and it was one of the signature films of the year. If it doesn't score here it's likely to be shut out entirely.

Original Screenplay. This one is also a difficult call and I make it with a heavy heart! I've been predicting the same five films for a good long while now: The Favourite, Green Book, Roma, First Reformed, and Vice . I'm afraid I'll have to drop First Reformed. The Paul Schrader religious crisis drama hasn't done well in the precursors due to the lack of a campaign and, presumably, its tough subject matter. Still, it's a critically beloved film from a famous writer/director who has never been acknowledged so it might still squeeze itself in. That said Eighth Grade and A Quiet Place both made the WGA list and Cold War has been gaining steam. In the end I'm going with Eighth Grade because both Bo Burnham and Elsie Fisher, an adorable duo, have been a steady presence all season despite the lack of robust campaigning from A24 and the movie stands out from the pack. Our favourite indie have been weirdly silent this year, despite strong films, which has also hurt First Reformed).