‘Unforgiven’ Tops National Critics’ List : Awards: Clint Eastwood film is picked as best movie of ‘92, Eastwood as best director, David Webb Peoples’ tale as best screenplay.

The National Society of Film Critics on Sunday voted Clint Eastwood’s “Unforgiven” the best movie of 1992 and gave recognition to Eastwood as best director and David Webb Peoples for best screenplay.

The citation for “Unforgiven” is yet another indication that the film is a likely major contender for the Oscar for best picture to be presented in March. The win on Sunday follows its selection in early December by the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. as best of 1992. It was runner-up best film in the New York Critics’ voting. And the film also has picked up four nominations for the Golden Globe Awards, including a nomination as best dramatic picture.

In addition, Gene Hackman won the national critics’ nod as best supporting actor as the sheriff in “Unforgiven.” The win gives him a sweep of the critics’ prizes, including Los Angeles and New York.

Emma Thompson was named best actress for her role in “Howards End.” She also has won best actress honors from Los Angeles and New York critics.

The 35 members of the National Society of Film Critics write for major national, general interest publications. They made their selections at a meeting at New York’s Algonquin Hotel.

Stephen Rea was voted best actor for his role as an Irish terrorist in Neal Jordan’s “The Crying Game.” (A profile of Rea appears on Page F9.)

Judy Davis won as best supporting actress in Woody Allen’s “Husbands and Wives.”

The complete list of winners:

Picture: “Unforgiven.” Runners up: “The Crying Game” and “The Player.”

Actor: Stephen Rea, “The Crying Game”; Runners-up: Clint Eastwood, “Unforgiven”; Denzel Washington, “Malcolm X.”

Actress: Emma Thompson, “Howards End.” Runners-up: Susan Sarandon, for “Lorenzo’s Oil” and “Light Sleeper”; and third position was a tie between Gong Li for “Raise the Red Lantern” and Pernilla August for “The Best Intentions.”

Supporting actor: Gene Hackman, “Unforgiven.” Runners-up: Jaye Davidson, “The Crying Game”; Delroy Lindo, “Malcolm X.”

Supporting actress: Judy Davis, “Husbands and Wives.” Runners-up: Miranda Richardson, for roles in “The Crying Game,” “Enchanted April” and “Damage”; Vanessa Regrave, “Howards End.”

Director: Clint Eastwood, “Unforgiven.” Runners-up: Robert Altman, “The Player”; Neal Jordan, “The Crying Game.”

Screenplay: David Webb Peoples, “Unforgiven.” Runners-up: Neal Jordan, “The Crying Game”; Michael Tolkin, “The Player.”

Cinematography: Zhao Fei, “Raise the Red Lantern.” Runners-up: Jean de Segonzac, “Laws of Gravity”; Jack N. Green, “Unforgiven.”

Foreign language film: “Raise the Red Lantern,” China. Runners-up: “The Match Factory Girl,” Finland; “The Best Intentions,” Sweden.

Documentary: “American Dream.” Runners-up: “Brother’s Keeper”; “A Brief History of Time.”

Experimental citation: “Another Girl, Another Planet,” directed by Michael Almereyda.

The society dedicated this year’s awards to the memory of Stephen Harvey, the critic for Inquiry magazine and a curator for the Museum of Modern Art’s film department, who died of AIDS on Friday.

Peter Rainer, a film critic for The Times, was reelected the society’s chairman for a third year.