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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Race For Oscar Begins With A Performing Cage

Compiled By Staff Writer Dan Web

We won’t know who is in line for an Oscar until the Academy releases its nominations on Feb. 13. But at least one critics’ group has already released its 1995 winners.

And true to its tradition, the National Board of Review has picked its winners from films that many Americans won’t ever see.

Emma Thompson was named best actress for “Sense and Sensibility,” and Nicolas Cage (“Leaving Las Vegas”) was named best actor. Supporting acting awards went to Mira Sorvino for “Mighty Aphrodite” (which opens today at the Magic Lantern), and to Kevin Spacey for his work in “The Usual Suspects” and “Seven.”

“Sense and Sensibility” won best film, and the man who directed it, Ang Lee (“Eat Drink Man Woman”), won for best director.

Loose talk

Dolly Parton, on turning 50 on Jan. 19 (in McCalls magazine): “I have agreed to pose nude for Penthouse on my 100th birthday.”

Melanie and Antonio send him - well, nothing

Don Johnson turns 46 today.

My dad loved me so much he gave away all his money

Fresh off the news that multi-billionaire Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda French, are expecting a child, comes this reminder that Gates, 40, won’t pamper his children. In a 1994 Playboy interview. the Microsoft chairman said he would give away 95 percent of his fortune (estimated at $14.8 billion) before passing it on to his heirs. “I don’t believe in burdening any children I might have with that,” he said.

Getting a first-rate education in England, madam

The woman who heckled Princess Diana during her charity speech Monday night in Manhattan has been identified only as Alice. The princess had been speaking of parents being brave about their children’s illness when the woman piped up, “Where are your children, Diana?” “I don’t like to be lectured on humanity,” the woman said as she left with her husband, Bill.

Some day we’ll look back on all this and gag

Simpson trial epilogue: Christopher Darden is taking a leave of absence from the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office to teach at Southwestern University School of Law. Meanwhile, Simpson juror Anise Aschenbach says Judge Lance Ito has reneged on a promise to reimburse her for money lost during the trial’s closing months. “I feel that he definitely misled me,” she says.

Pam and her Tommy are just a pair of hip swingers

Pamela Anderson, jiggle queen of “Baywatch,” says she and husband Tommy Lee have a new game to play: While he sits at his piano, she swings over his head in a specially made trapeze. Does she do it naked? “Well,” she says, “sometimes (I do it) with a big hat on.”

Lisa Marie joins him on weekends and holidays

Michael Jackson, convalescing at Manhattan’s Four Seasons Hotel, has rented the entire top floor.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Photos

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by staff writer Dan Webster