If there is a place for a film to get a lone nomination in an above-the-line category, it is usually for Best Original Screenplay. Having fun with the category, over the past decade there have been some unique picks such as Knives Out (2019), The Big Sick (2017), and 20th Century Women (2016) all snagging a lone nomination within the category. This year, there is a film that has such a fun and strong script that I think would fit in well with the rest of the listed films: Palm Springs.
Sure, the premise of the story is one that has been tackled numerous times, most notably in Groundhog Day (1993). However, that is why I believe there is a case for this film to get a nomination in Best Original Screenplay. The concept is one that we are all familiar with, and yet it still manages to feel original and fresh and is one of the strongest scripts of the year. Groundhog Day received zero nominations on Oscar night, so wouldn’t it be nice to reward this concept for the script at least once?
I believe that the best screenplays are the ones that are the most difficult to execute in concept. The reason that Get Out (2017) is such a strong winner for Best Original Screenplay is because of the level of difficulty when pulling off a screenplay of that tone and narrative. Similarly, it is hard to make the concept of a time loop feel refreshing and entertaining, but Palm Springs is one of the most enjoyable films of the entire year. Not only is the script strong by itself, but it earns points for level of difficulty in terms of execution.
It feels like every year there are more original screenplays up for contention as opposed to adapted screenplays, and this year is extremely tough in terms of the playing field. It has been nice, however, to see Palm Springs gaining momentum and snagging as many nominations as it has, whether that is an Original Screenplay nomination with the WGA, a Best Comedy/Musical nomination for the Golden Globes, or a Best First Screenplay nomination at the Film Independent Spirit for writer Andy Siara.
A lot of the films in contention this year for the Best Original Screenplay handle quite mature and sensitive subject matter. The branch has always favoured the dramatic films over the comedic ones, but there always seems to be room for a lighter film to slip into the line-up. That is how films such as the aforementioned Knives Out and The Big Sick grabbed nominations, and it could also suggest an open space for a film like Palm Springs to take the open spot. After watching film after film focused on dramatic, heavy subject matter, voters may get a slight energy boost from a light-hearted comedy with a strong script, like Palm Springs
Am I speaking on behalf of this film because it is one of my favourites of the year and I have been in love with Andy Samberg for a while now? Perhaps. However, the point of these FYC campaigns is to push the films that are on the outside looking in, and I do think that if voters give the film a shot, there is a place for Palm Springs to be a nominee for Best Original Screenplay come Oscar night. It is time that the Academy once again embraces the fun nature of film and give comedies a shot, and this is quite simply one of the best comedies in a very long time.
