Updated (2/20/12 at 8:27 AM): After winning the USC Libraries Scripter Award and Best Adapted Screenplay from the WGA it's hard not to predict it to win at the Oscars as well.

---

Updated (1/5/12 at 2:01 PM): It's my Best Picture front-runner and with nominations from the BFCA and HFPA along with recognition from the National Board of Review, the New York Film Critics and now a nomination from the WGA, I can't help but say I feel like it's a mortal lock for the win.

---

Based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings, The Descendants was written by Oscar-nominated screenwriter and director Alexander Payne along with Nat Faxon and Jim Rash (Dean Pelton on "Community"). The film is an impressive drama filled with equal measures of heart, humor and drama making the screenplay a top contender for an Oscar nomination.

Updated (1/22/12 at 12:10 PM): If only because it was one of the hardest pieces of material to adapt, Zaillian and Sorkin's script for Moneyball appears to be the front-runner, especially after a win at the Critics Choice Awards.

---

Updated (1/5/12 at 2:02 PM): Two Oscar-winning screenwriters to its name and the script for Moneyball is quickly climbing the ranks. I can't see it surging ahead of The Descendants, but it's a lock for a nomination.

---

No mystery when it comes to the names involved with this one as Aaron Sorkin won the Oscar for his screenplay for The Social Network last year and Steve Zaillian has been nominated three times, winning in 1994 for Schindler's List.

Moneyball comes to the fold based on Michael Lewis' book and Sorkin and Zaillian working from a story by Stan Chervin. The talent involved and the quality of this story and this trio's ability to turn a book with hardly a narrative to speak of into a feature film make this a certain a top contender.

Updated (1/5/12 at 2:07 PM): This is one of the hardest films and scripts to predict at this time as you hear wildly different opinions on the film. People seem to have passion for it, but those same people say the narrative has problems. Will passion win out? It just secured a nomination from the WGA and also scored one from the BFCA, but I'm not so sure.

---

Counting out John Logan would be a mistake as this Oscar-nominated screenwriter of The Aviator and Gladiator continues to be a hot property in Hollywood with Steven Spielberg preparing to direct the screenplay he co-wrote for Steven Spielberg's Lincoln and also having taken a part in the 23rd James Bond film and having written Darren Aronofsky's Noah.

As for Hugo, early reviews make it sound as if it may not be a film for the masses, but the film, which is based on the book by Brian Selznick, has been declared a "love letter to movies" which may sit well with Academy types though another review says it has a "less-than-satisfying plot."

Those reviews were based on a work-in-progress screening shown at the New York Film Festival, but it makes it sound like an outsider to me.

Updated (1/5/12 at 2:05 PM): The screenplay for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy wasn't eligible for a WGA nomination so we can't use those noms to help us here and the precursors haven't been kind to the film to this point. It may be a tough sell for a nomination and right now I have it just on the outside looking in.

---

There isn't much I can say about this film yet, not having seen it and completely unfamiliar with screenwriters Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan, but the last John le Carré adaptation to make it to the big screen was The Constant Gardener and it earned Jeffrey Caine a screenplay nod and with solid early buzz on this pic it's definitely one to keep an eye on.

Updated (1/5/12 at 2:02 PM): Being eligible for a WGA nomination while so many others were not and still not scoring a nomination is not a good sign.

---

George Clooney and Grant Heslov were previously nominated for their Best Picture nominated Good Night, and Good Luck., which makes me wonder if the duo will again enjoy similar results here. Personally I found the story to be a bit tame, but the overall theme of the film to be expertly crafted and I wont be counting it out.