Guessing The Academy Awards (Press, 20 March 1986)

The American Academy Awards are increasingly becoming a politically charged event, where the profiles of filmmakers, including their nationality and age, become as significant as the artistic quality of the films. The previous year's awards saw standout films like “Amadeus,” "The Killing Fields,” and “A Passage to India,” which made the selection process easier. However, for the 1986 awards, while many films are of high quality, none have ignited as much enthusiasm as those from 1985. In the race for Best Picture, “Witness” directed by Australia's Peter Weir is seen as a potential winner, albeit by default, given its strong competition. The film “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” directed by Hector Babenco, is regarded by the author as the best film, but it is expected that the conservative academy will overlook it due to its themes surrounding a homosexual character and his prison experiences. “The Colour Purple,” directed by Steven Spielberg, may have a good chance due to its racial themes, but its success hinges on the academy's regard for Spielberg. Other competitors include “Prizzi’s Honour” and “Out of Africa,” but they face tough opposition. Surprisingly, Richard Attenborough’s “A Chorus Line” did not receive a nomination. In Best Actor, William Hurt is the clear favourite for his exceptional performance in “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” which is considered sensitive despite his usual reputation as a more masculine actor. Other nominees include Harrison Ford for “Witness,” James Garner for “Murphy’s Romance,” Jack Nicholson for “Prizzi’s Honour,” and Jon Voigt for “Runaway Train.” For Best Actress, Whoopi Goldberg is predicted to win for “The Colour Purple,” despite competition from Meryl Streep, who has previously won two Oscars. The other nominees in this category are Anne Bancroft for “Agnes of God,” Jessica Lange for “Sweet Dreams,” and Geraldine Page for “The Trip Bountiful.” In the Best Supporting Actor category, William Hickey is the likely winner for his portrayal of an old Mafia don in “Prizzi’s Honour.” Klaus Maria Brandauer is considered a close second for his role in “Out of Africa,” while Don Ameche might get the award as a nostalgic nod for his role in "Cocoon." Other nominees include Robert Logia for “Jagged Edge” and Eric Roberts for "Runaway Train." Angelica Huston is favoured to win Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Prizzi’s Honour,” with other nominees including Margaret Avery and Oprah Winfrey for “The Colour Purple,” Amy Madigan for “Twice in a Lifetime,” and Meg Tilly for “Agnes of God.” Finally, for Best Director, John Huston is anticipated to win for “Prizzi’s Honour,” recognising his enduring influence in the industry. Competing directors include Hector Babenco, Sydney Pollack for “Out of Africa,” Akira Kurosawa for “Ran,” and Peter Weir for “Witness.”

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