European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 16, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tristan Paramount Philadelphia s Tom Hanks Aims for top actor while Holly Hunter shoots for an Academy award sweep. Spielberg Hanks Hunter Jones in the Hunt for oscars by Kenneth turan los Angeles times the 1993 Oscar race is shaping up As a particularly unusual affair a Competition in which the eventual winners Are easier to predict than the contenders for the Crown. Here it is less than a month before the feb. 9 nomination announcements and the Field is so crowded with possible selections that Handi capping the five nominees in key categories is As difficult As it has been in years. But picking the eventual winners at least in the four major categories feels suspiciously like a snap. Part of the reason for the horde of combatants is that two films released at the end of the year specifically for Academy consideration actually do have possible nominees in them. Both in the name of the father and shadowlands Are Good bets to place be sections in the final five though actually winning anything is much More of a Long shot. On the other hand most of the reason for the ease of predicting the winners comes Down to two words Schindler s list. Rarely has a film possessed the kind of serious subject matter the Academy loves to recognize with the Best picture Oscar and delivered so thoroughly on its potential. Reports indicate an enormous crush at the door before the Schindler s list official facade my screenings and one voter who got in claimed if they could have Given the Oscar right then they would have done  picking the other four Best picture nominees is trickier because several of the contenders share not Only the same genteel sensibility but also the same actors. Both shadowlands and the remains of the Day have literary antecedents Academy Type directors Richard Attenborough and James Ivory and Stellar performances by Anthony Hopkins and either or both could be nominated though judging by the Golden globes nominations. Remains of the Day seems a safer bet. Also relatively Safe Are Philadelphia its do Good ism too Good to be resisted and the old fashioned oomph of in the name of the father. The piano should also get a nomination but with the Academy As opposed to critics groups it is something of a Long shot. Similarly the age of innocence has not aroused any noticeable degree of passion among Oscar watchers and though it can t be counted out it will probably have better Success in other categories. -. In the Best director Competition once again de spite what All those critics groups did or did t do Steven Spielberg is not Only a sure nominee but also the Early favorite to break his longstanding Jinx and take Home the Oscar on March 21. His fellow nominees will be a familiar group. While his film May not get a nod innocence s mar tin Scorsese should be picked by his Peers As will a the name of the fathers Jim Sheridan previously nominated for my left foot and Pano s Jane Campion who would be Only the second woman to be nominated the first was Una Werdmuller for seven beauties in 1976. Academy favourites Ivory and Attenborough Proba Bly will round out the group for remains and shadowlands leaving both Short cuts Robert Altman and Philadelphia s Jonathan Demme As the Odd men out. Philadelphia will gets its moment in the Best actor category where Tom Hanks a solid Hollywood Citi zen doing Fine work and even dying on screen in a socially conscious role is not Only sure to be nominated but also the Best bet to be the Winner. Best actor turns out to be one of the most crowded categories but nominations do seem Likely to go to Daniel Day Lewis for his fiery turn in in the name of the father Liam Neeson for personifying Schindler s list and the protean Anthony Hopkins for either remains of the Day or shadowlands. The final Slot is pretty much up for grabs with hunks like Kevin Costner a perfect world dint Eastwood in the line of fire and Harrison Ford the Frigi of Vexall having a shot unfortunately three of the Best male performances of the year David Thewlis in naked Dennis Quaid in flesh and Bone and Jeff Bridges in fear Ess were Proba Bly not seen by enough voters to make a difference. Best actress As Ahvay seems the unfortunate Case a much less crowded category which this year Means less Competition for Holly Hunter in the piano. An outstanding piece of work in a difficult showy role by an Industry Ite in Good standing this performance should have no trouble either being nominated or winning the trophy. To fill out that category the actors Branch will probably fall Back on familiar faces which Means Al ways dependable Emma Thompson the Ideal foil for Hopkins in the remains of the Day a miscast but vital Michelle Pfiffer for the age of innocence and a reborn Debra Winger in either a dangerous woman or shadowlands probably the latter though the former is the stronger work. The last Slot is As with the actors a toss up the key contenders being stockard Channing in six de Grees of separation and if the Academy can remember that far Back Angela Bassett in the neglected what s love got to do with it. The perennial favorite is Jodie Foster in Summersby. The supporting categories parallel the Best actor and actress with a great number of potential Nomi nees to choose from among the men and much less of a selection among the women. Top of the list for supporting actors Are the sum Mer s most memorable dark forces Tommy Lee Jones for the fugitive and John Malkovich for in the line of fire. Schindler s list will contribute at least Ralph finnes As the icy nazi Nemesis and pos Sibly Ben Kingsley As Schindler s right hand Man. Laurence Fishbum certainly deserves no less than a nomination for what s love but the film May not have been seen enough. Other top contenders Are Sean Penn for Carlito s Way Gene Hackman for the firm and perhaps the likeliest of Long shots Young Man on the Rise Leonardo Decaprio for his remarkable work in what s eating Gilbert grape turning to supporting actress four performances immediately come to mind two of them by women who Are Likely Best actress nominees As Well. Both Emma Thompson in in the name of the father and Holly Hunter in the firm Are in line to pull off the neat trick of being double nominated in the same year. The other two supporting actress performances arc if anything stronger. Both Rosie Perez taking a More serious turn in fearless and Winona rider letter perfect in the age of innocence Are the pick of the crop this year. Picking a fifth nominee however is quite a Chal Lenge. The Academy might go with one of the women from Short cuts possibly Lily Tomlin or Jennifer Jason Leigh one of the exceptional group that energized the Joy Luck club or if the Branch is feel ing adventurous Gwynyth Paltrow s striking work in flesh and done. January 16. 1994 sunday Page 11