European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 07, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Oscar spotlight May find unforgiven Woodard Pacino by Vernon Scott up Hollywood reporter with Little More than a week to go until the annual Academy awards Nomi nations arc announced the major critics groups and Golden globes Are accounted for giving Hollywood a Good idea who the nominees will be. The one movie released in 1992 that appears to have a Clear Cut Edge in the balloting is the powerful Western unforgiven which Clint Eastwood starred in and directed. Several other outstanding films have gained the attention of the 5,000 voting members of the facade my of motion picture arts and sciences. Customarily the nation s critics the Golden globes and the directors Guild of America Are dependable indicators of nominations to come. The ultimate winners will collect their oscars on March 29. Last month the Hollywood foreign press association gave its Golden Globe for Best picture to scene of a woman but american critics did not agree. New York s critics chose the player. Los Angeles and Boston critics picked unforgiven. The National Board of review opted for howards end. The directors Guild of America nominated the directors of a few Good men the crying game howards end the player and unforgiven. A consensus would seem to favor unforgiven howards end a meticulous English drama and the player a Hollywood bashing satire. It is surprising Malcolm a and a few Good men both of which were highly publicized failed to impress any of the groups. However that does t necessarily discount the possibility of nominations for either picture. A few Good men was among the top Box office successes of the year with More than $100 million in the Bank and still going. Academy members Ever politically Correct and perhaps Able to overcome their aversion to director Spike Lee s hostility May Nomi Nate Malcolm x. The crying game a late december release and climbing the Box office ratings rapidly will show sur prising support. Box office muscle sentimentality and political correctness often influence voters As much As outstand ing Talent. With those factors in mind the five nominees for Best picture this year arc Likely to be unforgiven the crying dime howards end Malcolm a and few Good a Fen. Wild card possibilities a River runs through it and a add in. If unforgiven is sure to be nominated so then is Eastwood for Best director along with Rob Reiner a few Good me Neil Jordan the crying Gam James Ivory howards end and Robert Alt Man the player. On Only three occasions has the motion picture Academy failed to give its award to the director who also won the do a award. There arc no such easy guidelines for picking the Best actor and actress nominees. Among actresses Only England s Emma Thomp son appears to be an absolute favorite to be nominated for her faultless portrait of a Loving wife and sister battered by divided loyalties in howards end. Thompson was a unanimous Choice for Best actress by the los Angeles new York and Boston critics and the National Board of review in addition to winning the Golden Globe. It was not a Banner year for actresses thanks in Large part to the dearth of women oriented pictures out of Hollywood. England on the other hand provided two splendid women s films howards end and enchanted april. These women Are the most Likely prospects for Best actress nomination. Alfric Woodard passion fish Michelle of Ciffer love Fiel Miranda Richardson enchanted april and Susan Saran Don Lorenzo s Oil Woodard portrayed. An sex drug addict nurse caring for a paraplegic patient Mary Mcdonnell a possible nominee herself in the Louisiana swamp lands in a Story of racial class and philosophical conflict. Of Ciffer plays an abused Southern wife with a Jackie Kennedy fixation who takes a bus to washing ton in the Wake of the Juk assassination falling in love in route with a Black passenger and his Young daughter. Richardson essays the role of an English gentlewoman peacemaker thrown together with a Trio of droll and eccentric British females on an italian holi Day. Sarandon plays the valiant Mother of a dying child searching for a life saving cure based on a real life Story. Clint Eastwood there is a plethora of Best actor prospects. Most Likely Nomi nees Al Pacino scent of a woman act incl Washington Malcolm Tom in disc a few Good Afa Clint Eastwood unforgiven and Jack Lemmon Glen am Glen Ross. Los Angeles critics voted for Eastwood. New York and Boston chose Washington. The National Board of review vent for Lam Mon. Pacino was Given a tremendous boost by his Golden Globe win for his role As the irascible Blind re tired army colonel who lashes out at a world that no longer has any use for him. It is in Pacino s favor that he has been nominated four times previously but always has been denied an Oscar Eastwood s Long record of Box office hits and Good Guy status in Hollywood bodes Well for him in the performance of his life As an cd gunslinger who learns those who live by the gun die by the Pun almost. Cruise shines As an arrogant Young Navy lawyer who gets his comeuppance but earns his stripes in the courtroom pitted against a Salty commander played by Jack Nicholson. Washington s performance As Malcolm x is powerfully moving san Sitivi