EW ONLINE | Oscar Race

by Gregg Kilday
ast year, the Hollywood studios virtually sat out the Academy Awards sweepstakes, glumly ceding the annual party to the New York-based Miramax Films, which waltzed away with 12 statuettes. But with the year of the indies behind them, the movie empire may be striking back. Like Titanic--a behemoth of a movie that against all odds actually turned out to be good--the Hollywood film industry is lumbering to life just in time for the 70th annual Oscar rites.
True, the race has just begun (and while many predict a Titanic sweep, there's bound to be a backlash, just to keep things interesting). But as voters compare notes, the studios are clearly ruling the day. Despite a handful of critical naysayers, Titanic, which was cofinanced by Paramount and Twentieth Century Fox, has proved not just the season's biggest hit (its 17-day, $157 million take puts it among the top 50 domestic grossers of all time) but also a contender that has a shot at breaking All About Eve's record of 14 nominations. Critical fave L.A. Confidential--financed by New Regency and released by beleaguered Warner Bros.--displays the sort of self-assured storytelling that used to be a studio mainstay. Amistad marks not only Steven Spielberg's first film for DreamWorks but also his first "serious" movie since 1993's Oscar-winning Schindler's List. Even the therapist-meets-sensitive-boy push and pull of Miramax's Good Will Hunting feels like a studio picture (specifically, Paramount's 1980 Oscar winner Ordinary People) once removed.
Because it's never too early to start prepping for the Oscar pool, read on to see Entertainment Weekly's handicapping of the leaders and longshots in this year's race. We pick the favorites for Oscar nominations in six major categories, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress. Are your favorites on our list?

photograph by George Holz
Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt

GOOD" AS GOLD: Hunt and Nicholson look good for Oscar nominations in "As Good as It Gets"

boards Talk about the movies that deserve an Oscar nomination in EW's message boards.

by Gregg Kilday ast year, the Hollywood studios virtually sat out the Academy Awards sweepstakes, glumly ceding the annual party to the New York-based Miramax Films, which waltzed away with 12 statuettes. But with the year of the indies behind them, the movie empire may be striking back. Like Titanic--a behemoth of a movie that against all odds actually turned out to be good--the Hollywood film industry is lumbering to life just in time for the 70th annual Oscar rites. True, the race has just begun (and while many predict a Titanic sweep, there's bound to be a backlash, just to keep things interesting). But as voters compare notes, the studios are clearly ruling the day. Despite a handful of critical naysayers, Titanic, which was cofinanced by Paramount and Twentieth Century Fox, has proved not just the season's biggest hit (its 17-day, $157 million take puts it among the top 50 domestic grossers of all time) but also a contender that has a shot at breaking All About Eve's record of 14 nominations. Critical fave L.A. Confidential--financed by New Regency and released by beleaguered Warner Bros.--displays the sort of self-assured storytelling that used to be a studio mainstay. Amistad marks not only Steven Spielberg's first film for DreamWorks but also his first "serious" movie since 1993's Oscar-winning Schindler's List. Even the therapist-meets-sensitive-boy push and pull of Miramax's Good Will Hunting feels like a studio picture (specifically, Paramount's 1980 Oscar winner Ordinary People) once removed. Because it's never too early to start prepping for the Oscar pool, read on to see Entertainment Weekly's handicapping of the leaders and longshots in this year's race. We pick the favorites for Oscar nominations in six major categories, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress. Are your favorites on our list? photograph by George Holz		GOOD" AS GOLD: Hunt and Nicholson look good for Oscar nominations in "As Good as It Gets" Talk about the movies that deserve an Oscar nomination in EW's message boards.