THE OSCAR RACE: OPENING VOLLEY

Local Oscar nomination ballots went out yesterday to most of the 4,025 voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. But Outtakes couldn’t wait until Oscar Day (March 24)--so we asked eight of Calendar’s film reviewers and reporters how they’d cast their votes in six major categories.

Just like real Academy voters, Calendar’s voters haven’t seen all 222 eligible features (one staffer filed his faves, saw three big pictures over the weekend, then amended his list). So the following tally is incredibly unofficial and subject to great agonizing. (One critic beseeched us to mention Vanessa Redgrave in “Wetherby” as her close second choice for best actress.)

And now, the Outtakes envelope pleeeeeze. . . .

Best picture: “Prizzi’s Honor” (3 votes), “Out of Africa” (2), “Brazil” (1), “The Color Purple” (1), “Witness” (1).

Best director: John Huston, “Prizzi’s Honor” (2 1/2); Sydney Pollack, “Out of Africa” (2); Akira Kurosawa, “Ran” (1 1/2); Robert Altman, “Fool for Love” (1); Steven Spielberg, “Color Purple” (1).

Best actor: Jack Nicholson, “Prizzi’s Honor” (5); William Hurt, “Kiss of the Spider Woman” (2); James Mason, “The Shooting Party” (1).

Best actress: Meryl Streep, “Out of Africa” (3); Geraldine Page, “The Trip to Bountiful” (2); Norma Aleandro, “The Official Story” (1); Coral Browne, “Dreamchild” (1); Whoopi Goldberg, “Color Purple” (1).

Best supporting actor: Raul Julia, “Kiss of the Spider Woman” (2); Alan Arkin, “Joshua Then and Now” (1); Emilio Estevez, “The Breakfast Club” and “St. Elmo’s Fire” (1); Danny Glover, “Color Purple” (1); William Hickey, “Prizzi’s Honor” (1); John Lone, “Year of the Dragon” (1); James Mason, “Shooting Party” (1).

Best supporting actress: Anjelica Huston, “Prizzi’s Honor” (4); Ann-Margret, “Twice in a Lifetime” (1); Laura Dern, “Smooth Talk” (1); Angela Lansbury, “The Company of Wolves” (1); Oprah Winfrey, “Color Purple” (1).