The Barbarian Invasions, Denys Arcand
PRO: Dying Dads always good for award sentiment; Arcand a pro better known for Jesus of Montreal
CON: Academy voters shun screenplays that shun Marx, unless it's Groucho
Dirty Pretty Things, Steven Knight
PRO: Terrific movie, one of the best of the year, might perhaps find love in this category
CON: Knight has perhaps been encouraged to donate his extra votes to Arcand or the Sheridans
Finding Nemo, Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson, and David Reynolds
PRO: Biggest moneymaker in category; nothing says "screenplay award" like Burger King tie-in
CON: Suspicion that best bits all result of De Generes/Brooks improv
In America, Jim, Naomi, and Kirsten Sheridan
PRO: Sheridan (My Left Foot; In the Name of the Father) has that bittersweet-uplift thing down cold
CON: Viewpoint of Irish immigrants didn't work in Gangs of New York, and it ain't working here
Lost in Translation, Sofia Coppola
PRO: Only original screenplay nominee also up for Best Picture
CON: Given lengthy, uncomfortable silences, entire screenplay probably seven pages long
American Splendor, Robert Pulcini and Shari Springer Bergman
PRO: Extra points for movie's playfulness with animated sequences
CON: Isn't adapting a comic book, itself a script-based form, kinda cheating?
City of God, Braulio Mantovani
PRO: Shocking, brutal portrayal of area where youngsters are lucky to make it out alive
CON: Voters will confuse it with Thirteen
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Fran Walsh, Phillipa Boyens, and Peter Jackson
PRO: Writers have been nominated for other two movies in trilogy, and this could be The Lord of the Rings' year
CON: Medieval+Western "But Sauron has many men and we have not" style gets grating after say, three hours
Mystic River, Brian Helgeland
PRO: Like Helgeland's previous L.A. Confidential, conveys a sense of mystery without descending into noir cliches
CON: Star Sean Penn's screaming may overshadow some of the nice word choices here
Seabiscuit, Gary Ross
PRO: Ross a favorite to win; if he doesn't we'll have to shoot him
CON: Pete Rose, who has notoriously bad judgement/luck, said to have money on this one
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