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Oscar Nomination Odds: '... And They're Off! ...'

Del Genio, who has been handicapping the Academy Awards for over twenty- five years from Las Vegas, is now the General Manager and International Director of Race and Sports for Racing Services, Incorporated's international subsidiary, RSI de Mexico. The company provides horseracing, sports and wagering services to newly expanding international jurisdictions.

After setting the odds for the new nominees upon today's announcement in Hollywood of the official contenders, Del Genio released his picks (enclosed) and announced he will be posting the odds and handling wagering on the ``Oscar's'' event in seven locations in Mexico, including Acapulco and locations bordering Texas, such as Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros, Reynosa and Piedras Negras.

Del Genio stated, ``This is world class entertainment with global appeal. With the popularity of the U.S. film industry in Latin America and the emerging interest in foreign films, I expect to see increased activity in this play as an entertainment product.''

DEL GENIO'S OSCAR OVERVIEW

With 12 nominations, ``Gladiator'' looks to be the picture to beat in the Academy Awards race, according to Del Genio, who has successfully called the shots on ``Oscar'' for the past two dozen years. The gigantic DreamWorks film looks to follow in the tradition of ``Oscar'' blockbusters of the past like ``Ben-Hur,'' ``Spartacus'' and ``Braveheart,'' proving that the Academy members still like the epic spectaculars. The film's Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix should also carry their Best Actor and Supporting Actor categories and director Ridley Scott may walk away with that honor, particularly since his biggest competitor, Steven Soderbergh, placed in the unprecedented position of two nominations, for ``Erin Brockovich'' and ``Traffic,'' which could cause a split in votes.

``Brockovich's'' Julia Roberts looks a sure winner for Best Actress, according to Del Genio, although ``The Contender's'' Joan Allen looms as a formidable contender herself. Del Genio also points to Ed Harris' nomination as Best Actor for ``Pollock'' as a dark horse, reminding that Harris was also picked for a nomination in his earlier odds on the nominations. And the phenomenon of ``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,'' which won nods as Best Picture and director for Ang Lee, according to Del Genio, shows there is new thinking among the ranks of Academy voters, possibly because there are so many new and younger voters over the past few years.

He also notes the rise in popularity for ``Almost Famous,'' a laggart at the box office, but boasting two supporting actress nominations for newcomer Kate Hudson and former ``Oscar'' winner Frances McDormand, which places them in competition with each other for the same picture. Del Genio also reminds that Jeff Bridges was on his earlier nominations odds list and now is in the running for support for his role in ``The Contender'' and suggests he might be the one to watch for on ``Oscar'' night. Bridges is both a fine actor and a member of a Hollywood dynasty family and very well liked in town, he reminds.

The final winners will be seen on March 25 when the 73rd annual ``Oscar'' ceremonies take place at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium, broadcast live on the ABC Television Network. Meanwhile, here are Del Genio's odds for this year's ``Oscar'' race:

BEST PICTURE

"GLADIATOR" (DreamWorks) EVEN

"TRAFFIC" (USA Films) 3 to 1

"ERIN BROCKOVICH" (Universal/Columbia) 3 to 1

"CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON" (Sony Classic) 10 to 1

"CHOCOLAT" (Miramax) 12 to 1

BEST ACTOR

RUSSELL CROWE ("Gladiator") EVEN

TOM HANKS ("Cast Away") EVEN

ED HARRIS ("Pollock") 3 to 1

GEOFFREY RUSH ("Quills") 8 to 1

JAVIER BARDEM ("Before Night Falls") 12 to 1

BEST ACTRESS

JULIA ROBERTS ("Erin Brockovich") EVEN

JOAN ALLEN ("The Contender") EVEN

LAURA LINNEY ("You Can Count On Me") 3 to 1

JULIETTE BINOCHE ("Chocolat") 8 to 1

ELLEN BURSTYN ("Requiem For A Dream") 12 to 1

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

JOAQUIN PHOENIX ("Gladiator") EVEN

BENICIO DEL TORO ("Traffic") EVEN

JEFF BRIDGES ("The Contender") 3 to 1

ALBERT FINNEY ("Erin Brockovich") 8 to 1

WILLEM DAFOE ("Shadow Of The Vampire") 12 to 1

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

FRANCES MCDORMAND ("Almost Famous") EVEN

KATE HUDSON ("Almost Famous") 3 to 1

JUDI DENCH ("Chocolat") 5 to 1

JULIE WALTERS ("Billy Elliot") 8 to 1

MARCIA GAY HARDEN ("Pollock") 12 to 1

BEST DIRECTOR

RIDLEY SCOTT ("Gladiator") EVEN

STEVEN SODERBERGH ("Traffic") EVEN

STEVEN SODERBERGH ("Erin Brockovich") 3 to 1

ANG LEE ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") 8 to 1

STEPHEN DALDREY ("Billy Elliot") 12 to 1

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