Oscars 2018: Could Logan Win Best Adapted Screenplay?

Logan

The year in film has both delighted and surprised audiences, and the competition for the 2018 Academy Awards is threateningly impressive. Each category is packed with talented individuals that are determined to take home the Oscar and therefore be deemed as one of the best that the entertainment industry has to offer.

In early 2017, Australian actor Hugh Jackman had concluded the “Wolverine” series after seventeen years of carrying on the character of James “Logan” Howlett. His vulgar, gruesome, and humanly raw exit from the X-Men franchise was simply titled Logan. Upon the highly-anticipated release of Oscar nominees, Logan had found itself in the running for “Best Adapted Screenplay” alongside Call Me By Your Name, Molly’s Game, The Disaster Artist, and Mudbound.

This nomination for Logan is a victory in itself. This is the first nomination in Oscar history that has been given to a film that has been adapted from a graphic novel, in the specific category. In ninety years, there has never been another nomination of this breed of cinema up for “Best Adapted Screenplay.”

Cultured Vultures spoilers

The movie concludes as the Wolverine (Jackman) falls dead after combat with a genetic clone of himself, is carried by his daughter, X-23, or Laura Kinney (Dafne Keen). This allows the series to continue on as a spin-off and allows further permeation into the pre-existing universe. The expansion, as well as FOX’s purchase by Marvel, is a gateway for a broader plane of adaptations in the future.

For those who have grown up watching the adamantium-clawed, unfiltered and notoriously mutton-chopped hero, this nomination is seen not as a surprise, but as a reward for nearly two decades of dedication and services to an ongoing plot. There has been a hot debate that the nomination of Logan was a sexist move, due to the lack of Wonder Woman receiving recognition of its own. Was this really an act of gender bias? Or was this based on a performer’s ability to integrate their talent into an iconic role? Merit should not be based on gender identity but based on performance or execution alone.

Screenplay adaptations try to get as close to the point of origin as possible, which, in this case, has as much to do with the acting as anything else. Though Logan and Wonder Woman are both taken from a series of comics, Logan creates a seamless reality that put audiences in the plotline itself through the barren, uncut Southwest state of New Mexico and the environment it provides. The writing is also a dire factor to consider. From dialog to written direction, the writing is the backbone of a well-done movie.

The competition is fierce as Call Me By Your Name poses a huge threat, and had met wide success at the Golden Globes and the box office. Fan-favorites aren’t exactly a mean of voting, though, and are left for the qualified critics to determine. Contrary, it’s caused a ripple of excitement for any fanatic or supporter.

Regardless, this unique circumstance has the possibility to modernize the way that films are viewed and judged. If Logan does win, could this lead to a potential breakthrough, or will it be a tip-of-the-hat towards the concluding installment of an international phenomenon?

The awards will be presented on March 4, 2018, which leaves roughly a month and a half before the Oscars are bestowed. This will not be the first time that Marvel Studios has had a nominated feature, but the company is yet to receive an Academy Award. There are high hopes to see Logan become a winner, and there are impatient fans awaiting a final verdict.

Some of the coverage you find on Cultured Vultures contains affiliate links, which provide us with small commissions based on purchases made from visiting our site. We cover gaming news, movie reviews, wrestling and much more.