More writerly, 'Milk' or 'WALL-E'?

Not to say that Oscar ninnies like us have taken our eyes off the ball or anything -- no, no, no -- but there's a much more intriguing race than the one we all seem to be fixated on, the quest for best picture.

It's best original screenplay, says Guy Lodge over at InContention, which has traditionally and does again this year contain a more diverse, quirky and controversial set of nominees than what's considered to be the main attraction. It's a category that goes out on a limb in its nods and winners and could be the site of a big upset in the form of a little trash compactor character named "WALL-E," Lodge says.

As a refresher, here are the ponies in this race:

Andrew Stanton and Jim Reardon, "WALL-E"

Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"

Mike Leigh, "Happy-Go-Lucky"

Martin McDonagh, "In Bruges"

Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"

Just looking at those again does prove Lodge's point about nominees not following in the footsteps of the best picture race -- only "Milk" appears in both categories -- and generally being a lot more adventurous. In our handicapping, we've picked Black to win because of the timely and important story he wrote, and the passion with which he pursued the project. Others had tried, and failed, to bring the life and death of Harvey Milk to a feature film. Black seems to be the frontrunner at this point.

If "WALL-E" pulls it off, it will be the first animated movie ever to do so.

Not such a stretch, says Lodge, when you consider that non-best-pictures like "The Usual Suspects," "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," "Almost Famous," "Talk to Her" and "The Crying Game" were winners here.

On the "WALL-E" screenplay nod, Lodge said, "As a feat of writing, I would say it's a far more challenging and ambitious achievement than 'Milk,' and, given the film's impressive nomination haul across the board, I suspect many Academy members may well respect that."

Food for thought.