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Put simply, it’s going to be a populist kind of year. With 10 Best Picture nominees and some great films from the “populist” categories (especially science fiction), it won’t be surprising to see films such as Avatar and Star Trek, and even The Hangover making their way onto the red carpet on Oscar night. As evidence of this trend, the 2010 Writers Guild of America (WGA) awards nominees were announced today. Among the nominees were the three films I mentioned above, along with 500 Days of Summer, Julie & Julia, Up in the Air, The Hurt Locker and others.

It’s likely that if you’re a consistent reader of this very site, you’ve heard of (and possibly seen) every one of these movies (save for the documentaries). That’s not something we can say every year.

Original Screenplay

(500) Days of Summer, Written by Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber; Fox Searchlight

Avatar, Written by James Cameron; 20th Century Fox

The Hangover, Written by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore; Warner Bros.

The Hurt Locker, Written by Mark Boal; Summit Entertainment

A Serious Man, Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen; Focus Features

Adapted Screenplay

Crazy Heart, Screenplay by Scott Cooper; Based on the novel by Thomas Cobb; Fox Searchlight

Julie & Julia, Screenplay by Nora Ephron; Based on the books Julie & Julia by Julie Powell and My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud’homme; Sony Pictures

Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire, Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher; Based on the novel “Push” by Sapphire; Lionsgate

Star Trek, Written by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman; Based upon Star Trek, Created by Gene Roddenberry; Paramount Pictures

Up in the Air, Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner; Based upon the novel by Walter Kirn; Paramount Pictures

Documentary Screenplay

Against the Tide, Screenplay by Richard Trank; Moriah Films

Capitalism: A Love Story, Written by Michael Moore; Overture Films

The Cove, Written by Mark Monroe; Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions

Earth Days, Written by Robert Stone; Zeitgeist Films

Good Hair, Written by Chris Rock & Jeff Stilson and Lance Crouther and Chuck Sklar; Roadside Attractions

Soundtrack for a Revolution, Written by Bill Guttentag & Dan Sturman; Freedom Song Productions and Louverture Films

The 2010 Writers Guild Awards will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2010, simultaneously at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles and the Hudson Theatre at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York City.