Plot twists galore

A nod for a nonexistent screenwriter, two for Spanish-language screenplays for films shunned by their own countries and two controversial choices for adapted screenplay were among the odd twists in the normally low-key screenwriting categories.

Also noteworthy was the absence of “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” and “About Schmidt,” two films that have received critical praise; “About Schmidt” also received a nod from the Writers Guild of America.

“Gangs of New York” and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” both nominees for best original screenplay, have been the talk of industry insiders because both films have connections to previous works.

“Gangs” was loosely based on the Herbert Asbury book of the same title. And it is unclear whether the “Greek” screenplay came before the theatrical production, both of which were written by Nia Vardalos.

Jay Cocks, who co-wrote “Gangs” with Kenneth Lonergan and Steve Zaillian, said he had been working on the screenplay since 1970, when he and director Martin Scorsese discovered the Asbury book. But Cocks, reached by phone in New York, said he only pulled atmosphere of the era from the Asbury book.

“The book doesn’t have a story or characters -- that was my doing,” he said. “We just used the book’s name, and that is it.”

Vardalos, who was not available for comment Tuesday, has maintained in recent interviews that the screenplay preceded the play.

But in April 2002, Vardalos told Backstage West that she had started with 20 minutes of workshop material and developed it into a one-woman show seen at the Hudson Theater and two other venues. In a Times interview that month, Vardalos said she did not write a screenplay until after she wrote her one-hour stage show. Vardalos said at the time that never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that her one-woman show would become a movie. “Greek Wedding” has gone on to become the highest-grossing independent film ever made.

There are no written rules to determine what qualifies as an adapted or original screenplay. Each studio submits films in the category it prefers, but it is up to the 12-member executive committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ writers’ branch to make the final decision on a category. All 409 members of the writers’ branch then select the five nominees for each category.

The committee decided “Gangs” was so different from the Asbury book that it could be considered an original screenplay. With “Greek Wedding,” the committee decided that Vardalos intended to write the story for a film.

“We are not an investigative body,” said one committee member, who requested anonymity. “We are taking her word, and I have no reason to doubt her.”

The committee also decided that “Adaptation” qualified as an adapted screenplay even though it veers so wildly from Susan Orlean’s “The Orchid Thief” -- the book Charlie Kaufman was commissioned to adapt into a screenplay. It is competing against “About a Boy,” “Chicago,” “The Hours” and “The Pianist.”

The nonexistent Donald Kaufman received a nod alongside real screenwriter Charlie Kaufman for the quirky “Adaptation.” Neither Kaufman was available for comment. But the academy has stated that if “Adaptation” wins, the “two” Kaufmans will have to share one Oscar. In “Adaptation,” the character Donald Kaufman, a schlocky first-time screenwriter, serves as the alter-ego of his uptight brother, Charlie, an established screenwriter.

This is not the first time a fictitious screenwriter has received a nomination. In 1985, P.H. Vazak -- Robert Towne’s dog -- was nominated for “Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes.”

And it is the first time since 1976 that two foreign-language films have been nominated for original screenplays. Pedro Almodovar’s “Talk to Her” and Alfonso and Carlos Cuaron’s “Y Tu Mama Tambien” received nods alongside “Gangs,” “Greek Wedding” and Todd Haynes’ “Far from Heaven.”

The nominations were sweet revenge for both directors, since neither Spain’s “Talk to Her” nor Mexico’s “Y Tu Mama” was submitted by its respective country for consideration in the best foreign language film category. It is also the first time a movie from Mexico has been nominated for best screenplay.

“The warmth and the recognition that my film has received in the United States doesn’t compare with the chilly reception that the film has gotten in Spain,” said Almodovar, who also received a best director nod. “I don’t know if it is jealousy or what, but I think it’s sad because if there is a country that should understand this movie, it should be Spain.”

Alfonso Cuaron was shooting the third installment of the Harry Potter series in London and was unavailable for comment. But his brother, Carlos, said they were both ecstatic about the nomination, as well as the best actress nod for fellow Mexican Salma Hayek (for “Frida”) and the best foreign language film nomination

for “El Crimen del Padre Amaro.”

“If you succeed in Mexico, they want to lock you up and throw away the key,” said Carlos Cuaron. “This is a slap with a velvet glove to all the bad mouthers in Mexico.”

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Times staff writer Claudia Eller contributed to this report.