Oscars 2015 Predictions, Best Original Screenplay: 'Birdman' May Win the Category but 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' is a Threat

By Francisco Salazar Feb 17 2015, 16:30 PM EST

The Best Original Screenplay category is one of the toughest categories this year, as it includes the three big front-runners to win the Best Picture award.

The category has been a whirlwind throughout awards season as it seems no organization has been able to agree and thus has made this category one of the most unpredictable.

The winner this year will join previous winners Spike Jonze ("Her"), Quentin Tarentino ("Django Unchained"), Woody Allen ("Midnight in Paris"), David Seidler ("The King's Speech") and Mark Boal ("The Hurt Locker").

Wes Anderson, Hugo Guinness-"The Grand Budapest Hotel"

Including his nominations for Best Picture, and Best Director, this is Anderson's sixth nomination at the Academy Awards. He was previously nominated for "Moonrise Kingdom," "Fantastic Mr. Fox," and "The Royal Tenenbaums." Meanwhile, Guinness obtained his first Oscar nomination. "The Grand Budapest Hotel" has been one of the front-runners in this category for a while, especially after it won the BAFTA and the Writers Guild of America. It also won the Chicago Film Critics and the London Film Critics among other critics' organizations. Anderson's screenplay is likely to take home the award if the Academy decides to go the same way the BAFTA and the WGA went. Additionally, it could win if the Academy decides to give "The Grand Budapest" Best Picture. However, it still has to compete against "Birdman," which was not eligible for the WGA.

Dan Gilroy-"Nightcrawler"

For his work on the thriller, Gilroy obtained his first Oscar nomination. Throughout awards season it was believed that "Nightcrawler" would actually land a Best Picture nomination. However, when the Oscar nominations were announced, the Academy only gave it one mention. While the film was nominated in the screenplay category at the WGA, BAFTA, and the Critics' Choice awards, the fact that it is not nominated for Best Picture stands hurts it chances to win this award. As a result, expect the film to go home empty handed.

Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr., Armando Bo- "Birdman"

This is the fifth nomination for Inarritu, who is also nominated for Best Picture and Best Director this year. He was previously nominated for his work on "Babel." Meanwhile, it is the first nomination for Giacobone, Dinelaris, Jr. and Bo. "Birdman" is currently the front-runner to win the Best Picture category, especially after winning the Directors Guild, the Producers Guild and the Screen Actors Guild awards. While it was not eligible for the WGA, the film won the Golden Globe in the category and it has been embraced by most industry awards. "Birdman's" screenplay has also won the Dallas Fort Worth Film Critics and San Francisco Film Critics. Its biggest competition has been "Boyhood" but the loss at the WGA, the PGA, the SAG, and the DGA will definitely give "Birdman" an edge in this category.

Richard Linklater-"Boyhood"

This is Linklater's fifth nomination at the Academy Awards. He is also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director and has been recognized for "Before Midnight" and "Before Sunset." Throughout the season Linklater has picked up numerous awards even though the script for the film has struggled to be awarded. The film's script was nominated for the WGA, the Critics' Choice, the Golden Globe and the BAFTA. However, the film has lost all of these awards. The screenplay category has not always been awarded to the Best Picture as was seen in 2011 when "The Artist" lost to "Midnight in Paris." However, it is important to note that a win this category is needed in order for "Boyhood" to secure a Best Picture. "Boyhood" lost the DGA, the PGA and the SAG, which is not a good sign for "Boyhood's Best Picture chances.

E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman-" Foxcatcher"

Futterman recieved his second nomination at the Oscars while Frye received his first nomination. Futterman was previously nominated for "Capote" back in 2005. "Foxcatcher" is the other film in this category not nominated for Best Picture. Throughout awards season, the film has struggled to be embraced by critics' and industry awards. The movie has been criticized for its ambiguous script and its dark themes. As a result, it is a shock that movie ended up in this category. While it was nominated for the WGA, the film is not the type of movie the Academy will likely embrace. Additionally, the past five winners have all come from Best Picture nominees. Therefore this film has no chance at a win.