BFCA "Critics Choice" Predictions

We'll do this quickly because the Oscar nominations are the important thing. I have arrived safely in Los Angeles and love my fake new apartment for the time being (thanks AirBnB). I was surprised to realize the big budget of the CCMA's when I hit JFK and banner ads for the BFCA show were everywhere...

God, greedy much. How many thumbs could you want?

I hope you'll all tune in tomorrow night (A&E). The BFCA has a ton of categories and not all of them are televised so I'm not sure which you'll see tomorrow night but here's a very quick list:

BEST PICTURE
Prediction: Boyhood. I've heard fellow members stumping for Birdman and Selma mostly but in the end they pride themselves on Oscar predictions so I doubt Boyhood misses.

BEST ACTOR
Prediction: Eddie Redmayne – The Theory of Everything
Would love a surprise here like Jake Gyllenhaal but I doubt it. (Remember that year when Anne Hathaway won for Rachel Getting Married? We need more discerning detours like that.) There's another place to honor Keaton which might given them a fine excuse to let Redmayne prep for the possible Oscar win.

BEST ACTRESS
Prediction:  Julianne Moore – Still Alice

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Prediction: J.K. Simmons – Whiplash

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Prediction: Patricia Arquette – Boyhood
Though you'll get to see Jessica Chastain onstage too since we're giving her a Body of Work award for some reason (though she's already won 2 prizes in the past few years)

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS
Prediction: Ellar Coltrane – Boyhood. That wouldn't be my choice that's kind of a cypher part for Linklater's concept but I don't see him losing. I voted for Tony Revolori from The Grand Budapest Hotel

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
Prediction: Birdman. Though I could see Selma or Boyhood taking this, too. 

BEST DIRECTOR
Prediction: Richard Linklater – Boyhood. Though it would be heaven if we made a statement like Ava Duvernay

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Prediction: Grand Budapest though really it feels like the kind of category where anyone might win. The other nominees are Birdman, Boyhood, Nightcrawler and Whiplash

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Prediction: Gone Girl

BEST CINEMATOGRAPY 
Prediction: Birdman 

BEST ART DIRECTION
Prediction: The Grand Budapest Hotel – Adam Stockhausen/Production Designer, Anna Pinnock/Set Decorator

BEST EDITING
Prediction: Boyhood – Sandra Adair. Though I could see a Whiplash upset surprise. Not that off camera awards have "upsets" or "surprises"

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Prediction: Into the Woods but I'm not happy about it. It's fine but Atwood could do those costumes in her sleep. She wasn't pushing herself this time like she was on say, Snow White and the Huntsman. I think sane people have to vote The Grand Budapest Hotel's Milena Canonero, don't they?

BEST HAIR & MAKEUP
NO IDEA. Let's guess: Guardians of the Galaxy for kicks. Though i suspect maybe Maleficent?

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Prediction: Interstellar

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Prediction: The Lego Movie

BEST ACTION MOVIE
Prediction: I'm guessing Guardians of the Galaxy only because American Sniper was not nominated for the Best Picture prize

BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Prediction: Bradley Cooper – American Sniper

BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Prediction: Emily Blunt – Edge of Tomorrow.

BEST COMEDY
Prediction: Birdman unless enough members object to it being called a comedy (it so is a comedy but people are weirdly "it's not a comedy!") in which case Budapest

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Prediction: Michael Keaton – Birdman

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Prediction: Jenny Slate – Obvious Child though I could see a Rosario Dawson surprise too as press people like her.

BEST SCI-FI/HORROR MOVIE
Prediction: Interstellar

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Prediction: Ida

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Prediction: Life Itself

BEST SONG
Prediction: Glory – Common/John Legend – Selma. Though a win for "Everything is Awesome" or "Lost Stars" wouldn't surprise me

BEST SCORE
Prediction: Antonio Sanchez – Birdman

Comments

[Mike]

Enjoy your time in LA!

I'm happy that Jessica Chastain is getting some recognition for her work from the BFCA. She's consistently brilliant, but was mostly overlooked in 2014 for reasons beyond her control (Weinstein's clumsy handling of Eleanor Rigby, A24's poor release strategy for AMVY, etc). At least she will have one reason to celebrate tomorrow.

[Angela]

I agree with Mike. Chastain should have had a better shot at the awards this year but for reasons out of her control, that didn't happen.

[3rtful]

Inherent Vice could pull off a victory in Adapted Screenplay. You simply went with Gone Girl because you didn't want to entertain an unpleasant idea to you that Inherent Vice could actually win something. Especially since it could be practically shut out tomorrow morning.