OUTSTANDING ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Screenplay by Charlie Wachtel David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott & Spike Lee; Based on Black Klansman by Ron Stallworth, BlacKkKlansman

Screenplay by Barry Jenkins; Based on If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin, If Beale Street Could Talk

Screenplay by Paul King & Simon Farnaby; Based on Paddington Bear by Michael Bond, Paddington 2

Screenplay by Gillian Flynn & Steve McQueen; Based on Widows by Lynda La Plante, Widows

Screenplay by Paul Dano & Zoe Kazan; Based on Wildlife by Richard Ford, Wildlife

AND THE WINNER IS:

SCREENPLAY BY BARRY JENKINS; BASED ON IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK BY JAMES BALDWIN; IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK

This is the third win and nomination for Barry Jenkins. He previously won for directing and writing Moonlight (2016). I had been looking forward to watching If Beale Street Could Talk for so long that when I finally saw it a couple of weeks ago I was unsurprinsly blown away. Jenkins has now made three features and each have been singular while also similar feeling in both their feeling and scale. In adapting a novel from James Baldwin, Jenkins had high expectations to deal with due to the iconicness of Baldwin's words and Jenkins own filmography. Narration sometimes can become a writing crutch and not always be effective but the choice to include it in this film was extremly effecting. Directly quoting Baldwin's words was entirely cinematic and captivating to listen to. What was and what wasn't included in the film was genius of Jenkins and with this being a singular adaptation from him shows how he is an artist that will be staying around for some time to come.