European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 29, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Cover Story j Robert de Niro Jodie Foster Nick Nolte Laura Vernand the winners will be. From the cover beast has become the first animated film Ever nominated in that category. Who will take Home the Gold statuettes Veteran Oscar watchers know that awards Are not Given strictly on Merit. Voters take into consideration past careers of the aspirants How Many times they have won before and a Host of other intangibles that give the awards what spontaneity they have. Any attempt to Handicap the Field in the major categories is As always a hit or miss proposition with some that seem like sure things and others that done to. Even so Here Are one reviewers picks for the seven major categories Best picture the Field the Only Surprise is Beauty and the beast in a Field that includes Prince of tides bugs silence of the lambs and Juk. Beast does t have much of a Chance. Lambs May suffer from its Long ago release Date but is still a Strong contender. Stone will be stumping for his baby while tides looks Good because of Nick Nolter a solid performance. The most nominations 10, went to front runner bugs. What should win for pure movie entertainment the silence of the lambs offered As Many thrills As the others combined. What will win the two most non political movies among the non animated entrants bugs and Prince of tides will vie for the title with bugs striking  actor the Field Warren Beatty was a virtuoso As mobster bugs Siegel. Nick Nolte got some of the finest reviews of his career in tides. Robert de Niro added yet another memorable psycho to his resume in Cape fear while Robin Williams got his second Oscar nomination for the whimsical Fisher King. Anthony Hopkins terrified audiences As Hannibal a the Cannibal Lecter in silence of the lambs. Who should win Hopkins was chillingly primal in his Complex portrayal of a sick evil Genius although the role was More of a supporting one than a Lead. Who will win the Academy will compensate Nolte As a Way to assuage its collective guilt Over snubbing  actress the held Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon go had to head for Gold for their controversial female buddy Road movie Thelma amp Louise. As expected Jodie Foster is in Good Stead for lambs. Big Surprise a and not such a Longshot a is Laura dem for the under hyped rambling Rose. Bette Midler reportedly got her nod because she was so distraught Over the mediocre reviews and poor showing of her wartime Uso movie for the boys. Who should win Annette Bening May not have deserved to win but she deserved to be nominated. Since she Wasny to Jodie Foster should win for her work As a Rookie Fri agent caught up in a world of psychosexual evil in lambs. Who will win Foster although a Strong Case could be made for either Sarandon or Davis. If it came Down to that Sarandon would take the prize because she does no to have an Oscar and Davis  supporting actor the Field Tommy Lee Jones is up for his role As one of the Kennedy conspirators Clay Shaw in Juk. Harvey Keitel As a Gunset att Len Kingsley As fellow mobster Meyer Lansky from Busy Are both nominated. Michael Lemer in the c9en Brothers surreal film Barton Fink and Jack Palance in Billy crystals City slickers round out this crop. Who should win Keitel and Jones gave serviceable performances in roles that weren to meaty enough for them to win this award. Strong sentimental favorite is longtime Star Palance one of the Best things about City slickers. Who will win the Academy will succumb to the Aura of Hollywood a Golden yesteryear and give it to Palance. Best supporting actress the Field Diane Ladd Laura Dernus real mom is another sentimental pick for rambling Rose Kate Nolligan in tides Mercedes Ruehl in Fisher King and Jessica Tandy in Fried Green tomatoes Are also on Board. Newcomer is teen Ager Juliette Lewis who was eve to Robert de Niros Serpent in Cape fear. Who should win Lewis almost stole the show from the likes of de Niro Nolte and Jessica Lange As the naive teen who Falls under a psycho criminals spell but has to pay More dues before becoming a serious contender. Who will win this is the real toss up category with Ladd Nelligan and Tandy All having Good chances. Give it to  director the Field big Surprise is 24-year-old Rookie John Singleton who got the nod for Boyz n the Hood and is both the youngest director Ever in this category and the first Black. Barry Levinson is Strong for bugs. Oliver Stone got a grudging nomination for Juk Jonathan Demme for lambs and Ridley Scott for Thelma amp Louise have Good shots. Who should win if you re talking Overall Impact then Demme gets it for lambs. Who will win Levinson in All likelihood although Demme has a decent  original screenplay the Field Singleton is in As is James Toback for bugs Richard Lagravenese came up with a brilliantly Quirky Gem in Fisher King. Lawrence and Meg Kasdan updated their big chill with grand Canyon while Callie Khouri rocked the Battle of the sexes with Thelma amp Louise. Who should win again if you re talking Impact the award goes to Khouri whose film had men and women talking for weeks. Fisher King is the strongest possible second Choice. Who will win bugs the film with the most hype. Finally if there is any Justice in the world Arnold Schwarzenegger a Box office blockbuster of the summer and of the year terminator 2 judgment Day Wilt cop the award for Best visual effects Over Back draft and Hook neither of which lived up to its Advance publicity. Page 4 a sunday March 29, 1992