Oscar Fever, Cont'd.

*One--and only one--performer won an Oscar for a Hitchcock role. We're talking about Joan Fontaine, in "Suspicion."

*Woody Allen performers have had much better luck: Dianne Wiest, Diane Keaton, Michael Caine, Penelope Cruz, Cate Blanchett, Mira Sorvina.

*One of the great travesties in Oscars history is that the 1999 Best Picture prize went to "American Beauty," a boring choice. This was a watershed year for movies; it was a year that resulted in "Election," "Being John Malkovich," "Office Space," "The Insider," and "Boys Don't Cry," among many other worthy projects.

*People do well in Clint Eastwood films. His Oscar winners include: Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman, Sean Penn, and Tim Robbins.

*Before this year, no Noah Baumbach performer had earned even an Oscar NOMINATION. Now Laura Dern has a nomination--and, surely, will win--for "Marriage Story." And keep an eye on Adam Driver. (ScarJo seems to be a "not her year" contender) ......

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