2016 Academy Awards - Flick Chicks Predictions

How is it Oscar time again already?! I'm so excited this year, I've been counting down the days until the nominations were released and i'm looking forward to trying (again) to watch all the major players before the big day!  Last year me and Allie decided it would be a good idea to stay awake and watch the whole thing live, which was fine for me when it finished at 5am because I booked a days holiday but poor Allie drove home at around 3am I think and actually got up for work the next morning!  Now that is commitment!  However, this year due to Allie's awesome Honeymoon plans (and therefore lack of holiday days) we are both avoiding all social media all day on Monday 29th while at work and will be watching a recorded version of the awards.  No live tweeting this time from us unfortunately!

I'm so scared for that Monday. If we can both go through the whole day without hearing anything I'll be amazed! I also want to throw out a disclaimer for my own 'predictions'. There is no actual logic or knowledge behind mine at all, ha!

Best Picture - Nominees

The Big Short
Bridge of Spies
Brooklyn
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Room
Spotlight

Jenna's Prediction - I have a feeling The Revenant is going to take this home due to the sheer volume of nominations but I would love The Martian to take this home.

Allie's Prediction - I'd be happy for many of these to win to be honest, unlike last year, I think it'll be The Revenant but I would absolutely love it if Spotlight won!

Best Actor - Nominees

Bryan Cranston - Trumbo
Matt Damon - The Martian
Leonardo DiCaprio - The Revenant
Michael Fassbender - Steve Jobs
Eddie Redmayne - The Danish Girl

Jenna's Prediction - Everyone knows what I am going to say, if Leonardo DiCaprio doesn't win I will boycott all future Oscars!

Allie's Prediction - What is the internet going to do when it can't campaign for Leo's Oscar anymore? What are you going to do, Jenna?! Leonardo DiCaprio does deserve it, though, I can't argue with that. 

Best Actress - Nominees

Cate Blanchett - Carol
Brie Larson - Room
Jennifer Lawrence - Joy
Charlotte Rampling - 45 Years
Saoirse Ronan - Brooklyn

Jenna's Prediction - I haven't seen all of these yet, however Brie Larson was absolutely incredible in Room so I am 100% rooting for her.

Allie's Prediction - This is my most appalling category, I haven't seen nearly all of these but I agree with your pick of Brie Larson.

 

Best Supporting Actor - Nominees

Christian Bale - The Big Short
Tom Hardy - The Revenant
Mark Ruffalo - Spotlight
Mark Rylance - Bridge of Spies
Sylvester Stallone - Creed 

Jenna's Prediction - I can't decide between Tom Hardy and Mark Rylance in this category but I would be happy with either.

Allie's Prediction - You can't have two guesses! I'd be so happy if it went to Tom Hardy or Mark Ruffalo, but I've heard a lot of buzz about Sylvester Stallone winning it! How cool would that be?!

Best Supporting Actress - Nominees

Jennifer Jason Leigh - The Hateful Eight
Rooney Mara - Carol
Rachel McAdams - Spotlight
Alicia Vikander - The Danish Girl
Kate Winslet - Steve Jobs

Jenna's Prediction - I think there is a good chance Alicia Vikander will take this home, they seem to be swaying towards new up and comers in recent years.

Allie's Prediction - Arghh I don't know who I want to pick for this category! You chose 2 for the last one so I'm going with Jennifer Jason Leigh or Rachel McAdams. I loved them both!

Best Animated Feature - Nominees

  
Anomalisa
Inside Out
Shaun the Sheep
Boy and the World
When Marnie Was There

Jenna's Prediction - Its got to be Inside Out this year, if only to make up for The Lego Movie snub last year!

Allie's Prediction - I really think Inside Out deserves this, but I've heard amazing things about Anomalisa which has me scared. Still going with Inside Out though!

Best Cinematography - Nominees
Carol
Hateful Eight
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant
Sicario

Jenna's Prediction - I would love for Mad Max: Fury Road to take this one but I think it will be The Revenant.

Allie's Prediction - Same! I'd be super happy if it went to Sicario, but I think it'll be The Revenant.

Best Costume Design - Nominees
Carol
Cinderella
The Danish Girl
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant

Jenna's Prediction - Got to be Mad Max: Fury Road

Allie's Prediction - I pay so little attention to costumes I'm basically useless here. The dresses in Cinderella were beautiful? But they were crazy in Mad Max: Fury Road so I'll pick that, too!


Best Director - Nominees
Adam Mckay - The Big Short
George Miller - Mad Max: Fury Road
Alejandro G Inarritu - The Revenant
Lenny Abrahamson - Room
Tom McCarthy - Spotlight

 Jenna's Prediction - It think there is a good chance it will be two years running for Alejandro G Inarritu and The Revenant

Allie's Prediction - I love Alejandro G Inarritu's work and I think he'll win it but I really want this one to go to George Miller for Mad Max: Fury Road.

Best Film Editing - Nominees
The Big Short
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Spotlight

Jenna's Prediction - Urm I don't really know much about editing to be honest so I will go with The Revenant as I think it will be a big winner on the night.

Allie's Prediction -  Does lots of editing mean best editing?If so I'd go with The Big Short here. I'll never complain about a Star Wars win though. But Mad Max too....I don't like making decisions. I'll go Mad Max!


Best Foreign Language Film - Nominees
Embrace of the Serpant
Mustang
Son of Saul
Theeb
A War

Jenna's Prediction - I will take a complete stab in the dark with A War

Allie's Prediction - Our stab in the dark guesses failed last year but I'll try again too...Theeb



Best Make Up and Hair Styling - Nominees
Mad Max: Fury Road
The 100-year-old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared
The Revenant

Jenna's Prediction - For the amazing work on all the wounds and such The Revenant will surely take this one home.

Allie's Prediction - Arghhh but Fury Road! I want to say The Revenant...but Fury Road...screw it! Mad Max: Fury Road.

Best Original Score - Nominees
Bridge of Spies
Carol
The Hateful Eight
Sicario
Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Jenna's Prediction - I would guess Star Wars: The Force Awakens, who doesn't love the score in Star Wars.

Allie's Prediction - I'm actually surprised that was even eligible! It's so iconic though, I'd be so happy if it won but I loved the music in The Hateful Eight...argh! Let's go Hateful Eight. I haven't picked that yet. This method got me through school tests okay?


Best Original Song - Nominees
"Earned It" - 50 Shades of Grey
"Til It Happens To You" - The Hunting Ground
"Writings On The Wall" - Spectre
"Manta Ray" - Racing Extinction
"Simple Song 3" - Youth

Jenna's Prediction - I'll let Allie tell you her thoughts on this category but I reckon Writings on the Wall will win.

Allie's Prediction - Come on guys...how funny is it going to be if Earned It wins it, and Fifty Shades becomes an Oscar Winning movie! I'm going with it. Let's do this. Plus I can't stand Writings on the Wall...it got so over played last year.


Best Production Design - Nominees
Bridge of Spies
The Danish Girl
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant

Jenna's Prediction - This is tough to call but I think The Martian will beat out the others.

Allie's Prediction -  Pfffff! So The Revenant is tipped to be the big winner on the night and I haven't actually picked it for much yet so let's go with that!


Best Sound Editing - Nominees
Mad Max : Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Sicario
Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Jenna's Prediction - I struggle with this one and mixing because I really have no idea what they mean, so I will guess at Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Allie's Prediction -  We're entering 'eeney-meeney-miney-mo' territory for me now. The Revenant?

Best Sound Mixing - Nominees
Bridge of Spies
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Jenna's Prediction - Do the same films usually win this and editing or not?! I should really do some research!  Urm Bridge of Spies.

Allie's Prediction - I'd like to apologise to the men and women who dedicate their lives to this work, that I have no knowledge on whatsoever. Star Wars: The Force Awakens!

Best Visual Effects - Nominees
Ex Machina
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Jenna's Prediction - Any of these could easily take this one but I think it will be Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Allie's Prediction - I think it even stands a chance but Ava herself is simply amazing, so I'm team Ex Machina all the way! I think Mad Max will win this one though. Again though, I'll never complain at a Star Wars win.

Best Adapted Screenplay - Nominees
The Big Short
Brooklyn
Carol
The Martian
Room

Jenna's Prediction - Hands down, The Martian should win this.

Allie's Prediction - I don't know! The Big Short managed to make such a boring topic really funny, so that's what I'm betting on.

Best Original Screenplay - Nominees
Bridge of Spies
Ex Machina
Inside Out
Spotlight
Straight Outta Compton

Jenna's Prediction - I would like to see Ex Machina or Inside Out take this but I think it will be Bridge of Spies.

Allie's Prediction -  This is another category I have so much love for! I'm going with Spotlight, even though my heart wants Inside Out...

2015 Academy Awards - The Flick Chicks Oscar Predictions

Both me and Allie challenged ourselves to watch all of the main films that were included in the Oscar Nominations this year and as I have now convinced Allie to stay up late and watch the Academy Awards live together, I thought we should put together our predictions for the night.  We haven't included all the categories because there are some that we have no idea about so it seems a little pointless pulling a winner out of thin air, but we have covered all the major categories so not to worry.

Best Picture - Nominees

American Sniper
Birdman
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Selma
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash

Jenna's Prediction - I want Whiplash to win but I think Boyhood will take it.
Allie's Prediction - I want it to go to Birdman but I too think Boyhood will take it.

 

Best Actor - Nominees

Steve Carell - Foxcatcher
Bradley Cooper - American Sniper
Benedict Cumberbatch - Imitation Game
Michael Keaton - Birdman
Eddie Redmayne - The Theory of Everything

Jenna's Prediction - Eddie Redmayne (I have already stated that I will eat my hat if this doesn't happen, he was just incredible.)

Allie's Prediction - I would love for there to be a big shock on the night, but I think they already engraved Eddie Redmayne's name on it.

Best Actress - Nominees

Marion Cotillard - Two Days One Night
Felicity Jones - The Theory of Everything
Julianne Moore - Still Alice
Rosamund Pike - Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon - Wild

Jenna's Prediction - I haven't seen all of these yet but from what I know/have seen, I would guess it will be Julianne Moore and so far I would have to agree.

Allie's Prediction - Screw the lot, Rosamund Pike deserves it so much it hurts! It's going to be Julianne Moore though...she won everything else...

Best Supporting Actor - Nominees

Robert Duvall - The Judge
Ethan Hawke - Boyhood
Edward Norton - Birdman
Mark Ruffalo - Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons - Whiplash

Jenna's Prediction - Initially, it was Edward Norton for me but after seeing Whiplash, there is no question it should be J.K. Simmons.

Allie's Prediction - I wouldn't mind if Edward Norton won it to be honest, but I think it'll be J.K. Simmons.

Best Supporting Actress - Nominees

Patricia Arquette - Boyhood
Laura Dern - Wild
Keira Knightley - The Imitation Game
Emma Stone - Birdman
Meryl Streep - Into the Woods

Jenna's Prediction - I would love for Emma Stone to win, I really did love her performance in Birdman but I think it's probably going to go to Patricia Arquette.
Allie's Prediction - Pleeeaaase let Emma Stone or Keira Knightly win! We're actually agreeing a lot for a change, I think it'll go to Patricia Arquette.  Stop copying me!! ;-)

Best Animated Feature - Nominees

  

Big Hero 6
The Boxtrolls
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Song of the Sea
The Tale of Princess Kaguya

Jenna's Prediction - If it's not How to Train your Dragon 2, I will eat my hat (again!).  I did love Big Hero 6 but HTTYD2's animation is head and shoulders above the rest.
Allie's Prediction - I really, really, really wasn't blown away by How to Train your Dragon 2, but as long as The Boxtrolls doesn't win I don't care. I'm boycotting this whole category, The Lego Movie should have won. Mature!!

Best Cinematography - Nominees
Emmanuel Lubezki - Birdman
Robert Yeoman - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Lukasz Zal and Ryszard Lenczewski - Ida
Dick Pope - Mr. Turner
Roger Deakins - Unbroken

Jenna's Prediction - It has to be Emmanuel Lubezki for Birdman.
Allie's Prediction - Yep, this has to go to Emmanuel Lubezki.

Best Costume Design - Nominees
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Inherent Vice
Into the Woods
Maleficent
Mr. Turner

Jenna's Prediction - Maleficent had some fantastic costume designs but I think The Grand Budapest Hotel will take this one.
Allie's Prediction - I want some love for The Grand Budapest Hotel!


 Best Director - Nominees
Alexandro G. Iñárritu - Birdman
Richard Linklater - Boyhood
Bennett Miller - Foxcatcher
Wes Anderson - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Morten Tyldum - The Imitation Game

Jenna's Prediction - Birdman, the direction was just so different to anything I've seen before.
Allie's Prediction - I'd like Alexandro G. Iñárritu to win, but it'll go to Richard Linklater.

Best Film Editing - Nominees
American Sniper
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game

Whiplash

Jenna's Prediction - Is it just me or should Birdman be in here?! But as it's not I will go with Boyhood.
Allie's Prediction -  I think Whiplash will win this one.

Best Foreign Language Film - Nominees
Ida
Leviathan
Tangerines
Timbuktu
Wild Tales

Jenna's Prediction - I know I am terrible but I haven't seen or heard of a single one of these so I am going to pull a guess out of thin air and go with Tangerines.
Allie's Prediction - Oh...I haven't watched any of these but I had a little read up of them. Let's go with Leviathan.

Best Make Up and Hair Styling - Nominees
Foxcatcher
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Guardians of the Galaxy

Jenna's Prediction - I really would love to see Guardians of the Galaxy win something but The Grand Budapest Hotel will take this.
Allie's Prediction - It would be awesome if Foxcatcher won this, but I think it'll go to The Grand Budapest Hotel.

Best Original Score - Nominees
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Interstellar
Mr. Turner
The Theory of Everything

Jenna's Prediction - I am terrible for noticing the score in movies and i'm a bit behind on seeing everything in this list so I will hazard a guess with The Imitation Game.
Allie's Prediction - I STILL haven't seen Interstellar! I think The Imitation Game will win this though.
 
Best Original Song - Nominees
“Everything Is Awesome” from The Lego Movie
“Glory” from Selma
“Grateful” from Beyond the Lights
“I’m Not Gonna Miss You” from Glen Campbell…I’ll Be Me
“Lost Stars” from Begin Again

Jenna's Prediction - I am almost certain that "Glory" will win this one BUT I am fully rooting for "Everything is Awesome" - and now its stuck in my head!
Allie's Prediction - Haven't seen Selma yet but everyone thinks Glory will win so I'll hop on that. No love at all for The Lego Movie...

Best Production Design - Nominees
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Interstellar
Into the Woods
Mr. Turner

Jenna's Prediction - I would love for Into the Woods to take this home but I doubt its going to happen when up against The Grant Budapest Hotel which I think will take the prize.
Allie's Prediction -  Surely The Grand Budapest Hotel?!

Best Sound Editing - Nominees
American Sniper
Birdman
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Interstellar
Unbroken

Jenna's Prediction - Here's the thing, I don't know much about sound editing but I would guess at Birdman
Allie's Prediction -  I'm clueless in this category! Let's go with American Sniper...I haven't picked that one yet for anything!

Best Sound Mixing - Nominees
American Sniper
Birdman
Interstellar
Unbroken
Whiplash

Jenna's Prediction - Anything to do with sound (and where they are nominated) has to go to Whiplash.
Allie's Prediction - Again clueless, but I agree with Jenna's logic so let's go with Whiplash.

Best Visual Effects - Nominees
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Guardians of the Galaxy
Interstellar
X-Men: Days of Future Past

Jenna's Prediction - I would love Dawn of the Planet of the Apes to win this, their effects are incredible but it's likely to go to Interstellar.
Allie's Prediction - Although I haven't yet seen it, I still think it'll probably be Interstellar.

Best Adapted Screenplay - Nominees
American Sniper
The Imitation Game
Inherent Vice
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash

Jenna's Prediction - For me it's The Theory of Everything, I had to Google Whiplash because I didn't realise it was an adapted screenplay, however there seems to be a lot of anger toward the subject so I'm going to steer clear.
Allie's Prediction - I'd have liked to see Gone Girl here, but in it's absence I'll pick The Imitation Game.

Best Original Screenplay - Nominees
Birdman
Boyhood
Foxcatcher
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Nightcrawler

Jenna's Prediction - I would love for The Grand Budapest Hotel to win this but I suspect it will be Birdman.
Allie's Prediction -  Chant with me now...Birdman, Birdman, Birdman... 

Thanks to timezones, Jenna and I will be staying awake until the sun comes back up again to watch the awards live! And then I'll be off to work...please spare a thought for me, haha! To confirm, the awards start at 1.30am local time and finish at 5am - urgh!!

Book Adaptation Predictions

Following the success of Nicholas Sparks, Stephanie Meyer, Suzanne Collins and more recently Veronica Roth in turning books into hugely successful films I predict that a lot more book adaptations will be popping up in the coming years.  As a big lover of books (as well as films) I thought I would predict what would be some of the next adaptations to hit the big screen.  I have just written this post off the top of my head, no googling etc.  So now I want to find out if any of my predictions are in the pipeline.  I have done a bit of research and I have noted in italic is what I have found out.

Before I go to sleep - SJ Watson

If I'm honest I have already seen in a film magazine that this book in going to be made into a film, however when I read it about 2 years ago, I thought at the time that it would make a good film and I was sure someone would pick it up.  In my defence, I didn't have a blog 2 years ago to note my predictions, so you are just going to have to take my word for it.  Before I go to sleep is the story of Christine, who wakes up every morning with no memory of her life, she writes in a diary that she hides from her husband to try to remember her life from her own mind instead of being told.  However, she soon discovered that her past is more horrific than she could have imagined.  As already mentioned this is already in production and is due to be released in the UK in September starring Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth and Mark Strong.  Review to follow. 1 for 1




The Matched Series (Matched/Crossed/Reached) - Allie Condie

I read this series about 6 months ago after a recommendation from my cousin.  They are really good stories (and stay interesting through all three books) and I think they would make great films, following hot on the heels of Divergent and The Hunger Games showing a future in which decisions are taken out of the hands of young people.  Matched follows Cassia in a future where all aspects of teenagers (and adults) lives are chosen for them, including who they should marry, where they should work and how many children they should have.  When Cassia realises there is someone better suited out there than her match, she begins to question all the decision society is making for her.  Ok, so Disney have brought the movie rights to this trilogy and it is marked as 'in development' so watch this space. 2 out of 2.

Me before you - Jojo Moyes

Another recommendation from a friend this time.  After spending months reading the likes of Hunger Games, Divergent and Matched, I really wanted to read a book that was not about a horrible futuristic society or a love triangle or the heroic female character, so I thought I would give this a go.  I loved this book, it was so different from everything I had recently read but it was brilliantly written and you could very much identify with the lead character, much more so than in the recent dystopian society based novels.  The story follows Lou, who in fairness has no real drive to change her life or do anything different and Will who lived a life of chaos and excitement with no two days being the same.  Their lives are thrown together and neither of them expect how much they will effect each other.  MGM have secured the rights to this and is currently 'in development' - three for three go me!!!

I don't know whether Jojo Moyes has been approached about movie rights for her books or if she's the next PL Travers and refusing to allow them the rights, however I can see her books heading to Hollywood very soon.  I'm following up with Last Letter from your Lover another of Moyes books which, my guess if she makes one into a movie, the rest will soon follow.  Watch this space! No news on this yet, but my guess is that if Me Before You is a success, the Jojo Moyes will end up on the Nicholas Sparks route :-) Darn 3/4


The Maze Runner - James Dashner

I have this book and it is itching to be read but I just haven't quite got round to it.  However, based on the success of Hunger Games and Divergent, my guess is this will be making an appearance on the big screen before long.  It's about a young boy who wakes up with 60 other young boys with no recollection of their previous lives, they are surrounded by a deadly maze with seemingly no means of escape.

I actually can't wait to read this and I have recently got into a habit of deciding who I think should play characters as I read them in the book so I will update on my predictions at a later stage.
It seems I need to get reading, this has been made and is due out on October 2014 - 4/5 so far!!



Bared to you (Crossfire series) - Sylvia Day
I haven't personally read this series and I don't plan to read them.  I wasn't a huge fan of the Fifty Shades books but I finished them because once I've started I have to know how they end.  However, if the Fifty Shades films are as successful as they are hoping, then I'm sure this will be the next up to be given the Hollywood make over.  Lionsgate have acquired the rights to this novel so this will be on the move soon. 5/6

The Delirium Trilogy - Lauren Oliver (Delirium/Pandemonium/Requiem)

Another in the Hunger Games/Divergent category.  I actually thought this would make it to the big screen before Divergent, but alas I was wrong.  I have read all of these books, which focus on Lena who develops what society calls 'amor deliria nervosa' which is actually 'love' - she falls in love in a society where it is considered a disease.  This has the love story which contributed to the success of The Hunger Games and the Twilight series but also has quite a unique plotline.  This, for a change, is set in an alternate present as opposed to a vision of the future.  The only downside for me was the third book, Requiem, which lost my interest a little, I found myself only reading it to find out how it ends, but still it think they would make very good films and they would probably liven up the third book to keep interest (and also split it in two if history is to repeat itself).  From what I can tell this is going to be made into a series, not a movie with Emma Roberts in the lead role.  I am quite excited about this as you know I enjoy a good series so i'll be keeping an eye on this to find out when it starts.

So I got 5.5 right out of 7 guesses, not to bad!