Unusually, women writers have taken three of the five nominations in this category: Nancy Oliver (Lars and the Real Girl), Tamara Jenkins (The Savages) and Diablo Cody (Juno). They are joined by Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton) and Brad Bird (Ratatouille).

Jenkins has written (and directed) an acutely-observed family drama. Ratatouille is much more likely to take the Oscar for best animated feature. Oliver's fable, in which an introvert introduces a blow-up doll as his girlfriend, is endearingly eccentric. Juno clearly has resonated with the Oscar electorate, and if it takes a prize, it will be for Cody's sparkling script.