Comments on: Writers Guild Nominations

By: Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:51:30 +0000

Nothing against The Visitor at all, but I think Joel is right that the performances (particularly Jenkins) elevated it above some problems I had with the material.

In Bruges has been getting some end-of-year love from far flung corners. I was a little in the middle on it, maybe I should have another look.

By: W.J.

W.J. — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:42:35 +0000

The island’s not so lonely, Craig.

I thought “The Station Agent” was far superior to “The Visitor.” Not to say the latter is a bad film–quite the contrary–but it didn’t go as far as I thought it would from the outset. It’s nice to tackle immigration and the questionable incarceration/deportation practices of the U.S., but the moral of the story felt quaint and dated to me. Also, Hiam Abbass’ character felt underdeveloped.

Too bad “In Bruges” didn’t get a nod here. One of the best films and possibly the best screenplay of the year.

By: joel

joel — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:12:19 +0000

I could swap out BAR or The Visitor for a different pick because I think the biggest asset in those films is the acting, but they’re not bad scripts per say.

Disappointed to see Frost/Nixon on the Adapted list when Let the Right One In or Tell No One are SO much more deserving, but I’m not surprised by their choices.

By: Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:30:56 +0000

I have beefs with the omissions, but I’m hard pressed to pick what I’d throw out. I’m not the Visitor fan Sam was, but I know I’m on a lonely island on that score.

People have criticized Milk, but I liked the restraint it showed and the way it avoided typical bio fodder. Naturally I’m always happy to see Coen writing get its deserved rewards.

I don’t know. Beyond that I’m happy to see Button, Doubt, Boogie Man and Gonzo included in the mix.

By: Sam Juliano

Sam Juliano — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:27:54 +0000

Indeed Nick. But of course my post was basically about the worthiness of the films that were picked, rather than the films they weren’t picked. I agree that there were several better than the ones up there.

I would add “The Reader”, “Happy-Go-Lucky”, “The Edge of Heaven”, “The Pool” and “Rachel” to the mix myself.

By: Nick Plowman

Nick Plowman — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:14:01 +0000

I have beef. No Synecdoche, New York, no Happy-Go-Lucky, no Rachel Getting Married. I got beef, and I usually lurve the WGAs.

By: Sam Juliano

Sam Juliano — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:01:29 +0000

Well I don’t think we could legitimately have a beef with any of these choices, now could we…..There’sd really not a weak choice for the categories that they were named in, (with the possible exception of “Frost Nixon,” but truthfully the scting and the script in that film were solid enough) Documentary Screenplay aside. (I haven’t seen three of those).

I am glowing over “the Visitor” of course, and like Craig am stunned that the omission of Charlie Kaufman’s script is a disturbing reality.