Among the theater adaptations, auteurs have the advantage with Academy voters. Debuting at Sundance and relaunching at the fall festivals was “The Father” (Sony Pictures Classics), which French playwright-turned-director Florian Zeller adapted with Christopher Hampton from his popular stage play (“La Pere”). Anthony Hopkins plays an imperious old man who tussles with his daughter (Olivia Colman) as he struggles to keep track of his changing surroundings. The script won the BAFTA.
Book adaptations: Playing four fall festivals including Venice, Toronto and New York was Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland” (Searchlight), a follow-up to the Chinese multi-hyphenate’s 2017 breakout feature “The Rider.” After directing Marvel’s upcoming “Eternals” (2021), Zhao returned to exploring America with a road movie adapted from Jessica Bruder’s memoir. Two-time Oscar-winner Frances McDormand (“Fargo,” “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”) plays a woman hit by the 2008 recession who drives around the country in a van. “Nomadland” picked up wins at the Critics Choice and USC Libraries’ Scripter Awards, which often presage the Oscar, as well as a BAFTA nomination. Writer-director Ramin Bahrani follows up HBO’s “Fahrenheit 451” with another adaptation, India rags-to-riches tale “The White Tiger” (Netflix), based on the Man Booker Prize-winning novel by Aravind Adiga, who Bahrani has known since they attended Columbia. The story tracks a low-caste Bangalore driver who climbs out of poverty as a chauffeur who steals his young boss’s money to fulfill his destiny. Bahrani scooped up bids for both WGA and BAFTA. The sequel:
Searchlight Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Contenders are listed in order of their likelihood to win. Frontrunners Florian Zeller and Christopher Hampton (“The Father”) Contenders Chloé Zhao (“Nomadland”) Sacha Baron Cohen & collaborators (“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”) Kemp Powers (“One Night in Miami”) Ramin Bahrani (“The White Tiger”) Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
