When settling in to watch the 96th Oscar Awards ceremony this time around, those intrigued by a touch of controversy needn\u2019t wait with bated breath, as Alexander Payne\u2019s acclaimed film \u201cThe Holdovers\u201d has already stirred up the wrong kind of attention.<\/p>\n
In a startling revelation by Variety, it has come to light that screenwriter Simon Stephenson, known for his work on \u201cLuca,\u201d has accused Payne, director of \u201cThe Holdovers,\u201d of plagiarizing his unreleased script titled \u201cFrisco.\u201d According to evidence uncovered by the outlet, Stephenson shared his script with Payne on two occasions \u2014 first in 2013 and then again in 2019. Payne allegedly reviewed the script at least twice before ultimately passing on it in December 2019, stating that while he liked it, he wasn\u2019t interested in directing or producing it.<\/p>\n
This rejection came just before Payne enlisted David Hemingson to join the project, and together they began shaping the script for \u201cThe Holdovers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stephenson provided a detailed comparison between the final scripts of \u201cThe Holdovers\u201d and \u201cFrisco,\u201d asserting that the former is \u201cforensically identical\u201d to his work. He claims that the \u201cmeaningful entirety\u201d of the plot of the Oscar-nominated film bears similarities in \u201cstory, characters, structure, scenes, [and] dialogue\u201d to his own script.<\/p>\n
According to reports, Stephenson filed a complaint with the Writers Guild of America on Jan. 12, 2024, via email, asserting that he can substantiate his claim \u201cbeyond any possible doubt.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe evidence that \u2018The Holdovers\u2019 screenplay has been plagiarized line-by-line from \u2018Frisco\u2019 is genuinely overwhelming \u2014 almost anyone who examines even a brief excerpt typically describes it as \u2018brazen.'\u201d<\/p>\n
The storyline of both films mirrors each other closely \u2014 \u201cFrisco\u201d revolves around a weary children\u2019s doctor who unexpectedly finds himself caring for his 15-year-old patient, while \u201cThe Holdovers\u201d follows a discontented middle-aged school teacher forced to look after a 15-year-old student over the Christmas break.<\/p>\n
While the WGA technically does not handle plagiarism allegations concerning spec scripts, they have been deliberating on the issue since Stephenson\u2019s complaint and have been urged to conduct a comprehensive investigation. However, as of now, no concrete steps have been taken.<\/p>\n
Despite the controversy, \u201cThe Holdovers,\u201d penned by Hemingson and Payne, has already received numerous accolades, including a nomination for Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars. At the time of writing, neither Hemingson, Payne, nor the WGA has addressed the shocking report and its implications.<\/p>\n
The question arises: Will this development sway the Academy\u2019s decision, considering that \u201cThe Holdovers\u201d is considered a strong contender in the original screenplay category alongside \u201cAnatomy of a Fall\u201d? The chances of a resolution before the Oscars ceremony are slim, and the impact on the film\u2019s other nominations, including Best Actor nominee Paul Giamatti, remains uncertain. Whether the Academy is willing to take a liberal interpretation of the term \u201coriginal\u201d in this category is yet to be seen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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