A Delayed Reply to Oscar Nods

A short-term effect of Oscar nominations is to increase rentals of movies already in home-video release. But almost none of the films that figured prominently in Wednesday’s Academy Award nominations is yet on cassette--and most won’t be for several months.

The only movie featuring a major nominee that’s already on video is “My Cousin Vinny,” with supporting actress nominee Marisa Tomei. That movie, which peaked months ago in the rental market, may experience a surge--but probably not a big one. The revenue fallout from Oscar nominations doesn’t usually trickle down to supporting cast mentions.

Look for best picture nominees “A Few Good Men,” “The Crying Game,” “Unforgiven,” “Scent of a Woman” and “Howards End” in late spring or early summer. The release dates haven’t been announced.

The nominations will help those films not yet in the rental market, simply because major-category nominations invariably add to the theatrical gross of the movies. And since the best indicator of rental-market performance is box-office earnings: The bigger the gross, the bigger the shipments from video companies to rental outlets.

Home-video companies basically use the nominations and wins as selling tools, convincing retailers to stock more copies since awards attention will increase consumer demand for the movies. Small-budgeted, critically acclaimed movies--often termed “art house films” since they lack mass appeal--usually benefit most. An excellent example is 1989’s “My Left Foot,” a small movie that became a home-video hit because of Daniel Day Lewis’ best actor Oscar.

This year is an “art house film” bonanza. Nominees expected to do much better on home video because of the Oscar tie-ins are “Howards End,” “The Crying Game” and “Lorenzo’s Oil.” The biggest benefits, though, will go to films featuring best actress nominees: “Love Field” (Michelle Pfeiffer), “Passion Fish” (Mary McDonnell) and “Indochine” (Catherine Deneuve). When these movies come to video, retailers will certainly buy more copies than they would have without the nominations.

Similarly, although neither “Chaplin” nor “Malcolm X” is in the art-house category, each should get a boost on video from the respective best actor nominations of Robert Downey Jr. and Denzel Washington.

The real losers in the nominations sweepstakes are “Hoffa” and “The Player,” which were shut out in major categories. A best actor nomination for Jack Nicholson in “Hoffa” would have increased its rental-market value. In anticipation of a best picture nomination, “The Player” was slated to come to home video March 31, just after the Oscar ceremonies. But Robert Altman’s best director nomination won’t lure renters like one in the best picture category would have.

What’s New on Video: Among the new releases:

“A League of Their Own” (Columbia TriStar, no set price). Entertaining, lightweight comedy-drama about the formation and operation of a women’s baseball league during World War II. The laughs and tension are generated by conflicts between the coach (Tom Hanks), who is a sexist boozer, and the players--particularly the star catcher (Geena Davis).

“Gentleman’s Agreement” (FoxVideo, 1947, $20). A WASP writer (Gregory Peck) goes undercover as a Jew to do an expose on anti-Semitism. Co-starring John Garfield and Celeste Holm, a best supporting actress winner for her showy performance as a fashion editor. Directed by Elia Kazan, the film won an Academy Award for best picture and still packs some punch.

Upcoming on Video: Just announced: The action drama “Passenger 57,” with Wesley Snipes, and the mystery/thriller “The Public Eye,” starring Joe Pesci, are due April 14.

Also: “Honeymoon in Vegas,” “Sneakers” and “Cool World” (Wednesday); “Singles,” “Of Mice and Men” and “Whispers in the Dark” (March 3); “The Last of the Mohicans,” “Wind” and “Bebe’s Kids” (March 10); “Mr. Baseball” and “Candyman” (March 17); “Mr. Saturday Night,” “Pure Country” and “Captain Ron” (March 24); “Pinocchio” (March 26); “Under Siege” (March 31); “Consenting Adults” (April 7); “Sarafina” and “The Mighty Ducks” (April 14), and “Night and the City” (April 21).