It all begins with the word…

I’ll go into all of this more completely on Sunday, but maybe now’s a good time to look at the Oscar races . Let’s start with the screenplay awards.

Original: Everybody loves “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” but its nomination is more than enough of a reward. “Gangs of New York” reeks of self-importance, and “Far From Heaven” is an intentional museum piece posing as, what, irony, caricature, satire? Who cares? So we’re left with the two Spanish language entries, Carlos and Alfonso Cuaron’s “Y Tu Mama Tambien” and Pedro Almodovar ’s “Talk to Her.” I’ll go with Pedro.

Adapted: “About a Boy” is the “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” of this category. “Chicago” is in imaginative adaptation of the stage play, but the real appeal of that movie is in its music, staging and performances. “The Pianist” tells a dramatic story with straightforward power. But for overall complexity, the award should come down to “Adaptation” and “The Hours.” David Hare does a masterful job of weaving together the three narratives of “The Hours,” but Charlie Kaufman (and his fictional brother Donald) did what many thought impossible: His adaptation of Susan Orleans nonfiction book is a masterpiece of imagination. He (they) gets my vote.