‘The English Patient,’ ‘Shine’ get best Oscar-winning odds

Friday, March 14, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Oscar oddsmaker Lenny Del Genio hedges his bets this season by offering two favorites in four of the six major categories, including the best picture and best actor and actress awards.

Del Genio's predictions, and a bit of his reasoning behind them, include:

Best Picture

"The English Patient" and "Shine," even money; "Jerry Maguire," 3-1; "Fargo," 5-1; "Secrets & Lies," 8-1.

On "The English Patient": "If you look at the historical trend of films that have double-digit nominations, all but one or two have done exceedingly well." Meanwhile, "Shine" looks good because "there's a revolt going on within the Academy against the (big) studios."

Best Actor

Geoffrey Rush "Shine" and Billy Bob Thornton "Sling Blade," even money; Tom Cruise "Jerry Maguire," 3-1; Ralph Fiennes "The English Patient," 5-1; Woody Harrelson "The People vs. Larry Flynt," 8-1.

"The trend is Geoffrey Rush had won everything that had been out there."

As for Billy Bob Thornton: "Now when he goes into a coffee shop or a restaurant in Hollywood, other actors that he doesn't know and don't know him come up to him and give him a hug."

Best Actress

Kristin Scott Thomas "The English Patient" and Brenda Blethyn "Secrets & Lies," even money; Frances McDormand "Fargo," 3-1; Diane Keaton "Marvin's Room," 5-1; Emily Watson "Breaking the Waves," 8-1.

"Kristin Scott Thomas's role was wonderful but she hasn't really been out there going to all the award dinners and banquets because she's been in staying in Paris with her child. ... There seems to be a feeling that she hasn't gone out and hustled enough." His personal favorite? Frances McDormand.

Supporting Actor

Cuba Gooding Jr. "Jerry Maguire," even money; Armin Mueller-Stahl "Shine," 2-1; William H. Macy "Fargo," 3-1; James Woods "Ghosts of Mississippi," 5-1; Edward Norton "Primal Fear," 10-1.

"I think the performance is more than worthy of winning the award for Cuba."

Supporting Actress

Lauren Bacall "The Mirror Has Two Faces," even money; Joan Allen "The Crucible," 2-1; Juliette Binoche "The English Patient," 3-1; Barbara Hershey "The Portrait of a Lady," 5-1; Marianne Jean-Baptiste "Secrets & Lies," 10-1.

On Lauren Bacall: "The role itself was a good role and I think that there are enough older members within the Academy that are going to reward her."

Best Director

Anthony Minghella "The English Patient" and Scott Hicks "Shine," even money; Joel Coen "Fargo," 6-5; Milos Forman "The People vs. Larry Flynt," 8-1; Mike Leigh "Secrets & Lies," 10-1.

On Anthony Minghella: "There's the story on how he made the film and what he did -- the broken ankle and the sands on the lenses and all that. He directed with his foot in a cast."

The odds are for entertainment only, as Nevada sports books only allow betting on sporting events.