Film producers, writers solidify Oscar race

LOS ANGELES: Film producers and writers on Tuesday jumped into Hollywood's Oscar race with their choices of 2010's best movies, including "The Social Network," "The Fighter" and "Black Swan," among others.

The Producers Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America, which represent their respective groups in the film and television industries, annually issue lists of best movies, and their picks are closely watched in the race for Oscars.

Joining the three movies above on the Producers Guild list were seven other films that have received praise from critics and industry groups. Those titles include "The King's Speech," "127 Hours," "Inception," "The Kids Are All Right," "The Town," "Toy Story 3," and "True Grit."

The writers divide their top 10 into two groups, best original screenplay and best adapted screenplay.

Boxing film "The Fighter" made the list of five movies that will vie for original screenplay, along with ballerina story "Black Swan," family comedy "The Kids Are All Right," and dramas "Inception" and "Please Give."

Facebook film "Social Network," adventure "127 Hours," crime drama "The Town," western "True Grit" and independent movie "I Love You Phillip Morris" made the group of five competing for best adapted screenplay.

Absent from the writer's list was "King's Speech," a drama about the stammering British King George VI that has made several best movie lists among critics.

Hollywood is counting the days until the February 27 Oscars, the industry's biggest movie awards held in Los Angeles and given out by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Producers Guild and other industry honors can offer a guidepost for Oscar chances because many members of the PGA and WGA also belong to the Academy, whose members cast votes for the Oscars. Moreover, industry group and critics' lists also give a lift to movie theater ticket sales.

The PGA also nominates films for best documentary, and those choices include "Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer," about the former New York governor's hiring of prostitutes, Rwandan genocide tale "Earth Made of Glass," as well as "Inside Job" that aims to explain the banking crisis.

"Smash His Camera" about celebrity-chasing photographer Ron Galella, "The Tillman Story," that examines the death of U.S. football star-turned soldier Pat Tillman in Afghanistan and "Waiting for Superman," that details the failures of the U.S. educational system, rounded out the documentary nominees.

The honor for best-produced animated movie puts "Despicable Me," up against "How To Train Your Dragon," and "Toy Story 3."

The Writers Guild picked six films for best documentary but only one, "Inside Job," is shared with the producers. The writers other documentary nominees were: "Who is Harry Nilsson (And Why is Everybody Talkin' About Him)?" "Freedom Riders," "Enemies of the People," "Gasland," "The Two Escobars."

The producers also unveiled TV nominees, and in the category for best TV drama, "Breaking Bad," will compete against "Dexter," "Lost," "Mad Men," and "True Blood." Nominees for TV comedy went to the producers of "30 Rock," Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Glee," "Modern Family," and "The Office."

Back in December, the writers unveiled their TV picks.

The PGA hands out its honor at a gala ceremony in Los Angeles on January 22, and the WGA has its awards dinner on February 5. Oscar nominees will be named on January 25, and the top awards will be given out on February 27.