Editor’s note: Welcome to the twenty-second of a 33-part series dissecting the 83rd Academy Awards, brought to you by the Large Association of Movie Blogs and its assorted members. Every day leading up to the Oscars, a new post written by a different LAMB will be published, each covering a different category of the Oscars. To read any other posts regarding this event, please click the tag following the post. Thank you, and enjoy!

by Jason McKinnon from The Athletic Nerd

I love the big franchises, comic book adaptations, sequels and remakes.  Sometimes, going back to a world you adore is a great way to spend a couple hours in a theater.

However, I still love the beauty of discovering something entirely new.  Original movies always have a way of reminding us why we love movies in the first place.  It’s a different experience when you are getting to know new characters and worlds.  So, even though I’m addicted to my beloved franchises, I think my allegiance lies in the unknown.  In what I’ve never seen before.

This is why I love the Best Original Screenplay Oscar.  It’s probably every screenwriters favorite category.  This year’s race is a tough one to predict as each of the 5 nominees successfully created something new, exciting and wonderful.  It’s down to 5 remarkable films that had a huge impact on the audiences they entertained in 2010. 

5 amazing screenplays. 
5 amazing films. 
Originality at it’s finest.

Another Year
Written by Mike Leigh

This film is a perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon.  It’s incredibly difficult to create a film with so many wonderfully honest and endearing characters and that’s why Another Year is a phenomenal achievement.  The comedy/drama has been the talk of many critics as well as fans of Mike Leigh’s work.  It’s a well deserved nomination but that’s probably as far as it will go.

The Fighter
Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson. Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson

Movies based on true events are just as difficult to capture on the page.  You have a completely different set of challenges to overcome.  What makes The Fighter so great is how well the screenwriters told the story of Mickey Ward’s struggle to gain boxing glory.  The Fighter is a fantastic film with incredible performances fueled by a truly amazing screenplay.

Inception
Written by Christopher Nolan

If you base this award purely on originality then Inception has to be the favorite.  A film this complicated must have been difficult to craft into a workable script.  Yet Christopher Nolan presents this mind blowing world with such a precise and seemingly effortless style of storytelling.  Each scene building on the one before it until you are completely wrapped up in a story full of action and beautiful effects.  Beyond that, Nolan created a film that makes you think and sticks with you long after the credits roll.

The Kids Are All Right
Written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg

The Kids Are All Right is another example of how to write incredibly complex and honest characters.  The Kids Are All Right takes you deep into a family dealing with very real issues when the 2 children set out to find their donor father.  The results of that search have a huge impact on their mothers who must deal with more than just the new man in their lives.  They face a true test of their relationship, their family and their lives.

The King’s Speech
Screenplay by David Seidler

I think The King’s Speech does something wonderfully unique in how it presents not only the fascinating King but of the world at a time of war.  It’s a powerful backdrop for a touching and funny story about courage, dedication and finding the strength to overcome difficult challenges in order to do the right thing and become a leader.  The inspirational tale wasn’t easy to relate to at first but it stuck with me in the end.  That’s what a good original script should do.  It should show you a world you’ve never seen and allow you the chance to truly live it and feel it.  The King’s Speech definitely succeeds to accomplish those goals.

The Frontrunner:  The King’s Speech
The Dark Horse: The Kids Are All Right
The Long Shot: Another Year
The Nerd’s Pick: Inception

When it comes to predicting who will win, it’s difficult to take your own personal tastes out of the equation.  I hope Christopher Nolan wins for his brilliant work on Inception but I don’t think it will happen.  That won’t stop me from cheering for the film but I think it will come down to The King’s Speech and The Kids Are All Right with the King coming out on top.

James, Dylan and returning LAMBcaster Sebastian wanna get digital, digital as they talk up the long-awaited (or not?) sequel to TRON, covering all bases from the music to the rendering of a youthful Bridges to the implications of Isomorphic Algorithms invading the real world (or whatever the hell that means).

Also on tap:

* Listener Feedback
* LAMB of the Week: The Athletic Nerd
* Trailer Talk: Red State
* Remember the Times

For the LAMB of the Week, we take a look at LAMB #457, The Athletic Nerd:

If you’d like your site to be a future LAMB of the Week, hit me up via email and I’ll add you to the queue.

If you’re interested, you too can be a LAMBcaster - we love new blood! For more information on the LAMBcast, check out the topic at the LAMB Forums. Music provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod’s Incompetech website. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service. The LAMBcast loves feedback, too. Either here in the comments section or to blogcabins@yahoo.com or to our Facebook page. Also, we’re on iTunes, and would still love a review, even if it’s a bad one.

Thanks for listening!

Hey you! Send me an FYC image and I will put it up! I don’t care if I get one from 50 60 sites, I’ll find a way to get them all up, and as soon as possible (the nomination voting period only lasts until May 12th!). When you’re ready to vote, do it here: http://www.misterpoll.com/polls/482056

(click images to enlarge)

FYC #50 is for LAMB #457, The Athletic Nerd.

FYC #51 is for LAMB #164, Popcorn N Roses.

FYC #52 is for LAMB #365, jdbrecords.

FYC #53 is for LAMB #166, The Film Cynics (aka The Cynical Blog).

URL: http://www.theathleticnerd.com/
Site Name: The Athletic Nerd
Categories: Editorial, General, Film Production, Screenwriting
Rating: PG-13

What is the main focus of your site?
I work as a professional editor in television (sports) and run a small production company called 17 West Productions. I’m also a passionate screenwriter and I’m completely addicted to movies. The Athletic Nerd is an honest and personal approach to filmmaking and working in the industry. Here you’ll find content about movies in general, 17 West’s projects, the production process and regular features like Rainy Sundays and 10 Flicks.

What are your blogging goals, personally and/or professionally? In other words, what, if anything, are you trying to get out your blog?
I’d like The Athletic Nerd to become a site where filmmakers and fans come to discuss the movies they love and why they love them. I love the filmmaking process and being able to write about it everyday has been a dream of mine for a long time. It’s my hope to build up awareness of the site, reach a broader audience and build a community.

Do you prefer an interactive community for your blog or are you the teacher and your readers the students?
I prefer an interactive community. The posts I write are inspired by personal experience and include my own unique views of the movies I adore. Some will agree and some won’t but it’s the discussions I’m addicted to.

How long have you been movie blogging for, and how frequent do you post updates to your site?
I started The Athletic Nerd in September of 2009. I post 6 days a week. (Saturdays excluded)

Name up to three of your favorite movies (and no more).
Signs, The Dark Knight, A Few Good Men.

How did you hear about the LAMB?
I came across the link on another member’s blog.

Any additional comments, or give yourself an interview question that’s not listed above.
There are so many amazing sites out there that provide news and reviews that I didn’t want to compete. I didn’t want my blog to provide information that even I would be able to find else where. I took a different approach. I believe my blog is unique because it features daily original content about screenwriting, editing, technology, promotion and much much more. Above all else, I write articles about the movies that continue to inspire me on a daily basis. First and foremost, I’m a filmmaker but I was a fan long before that.