‘The Player’ and ‘Crying Game’ Top WGA Picks : Awards: Writers Guild trophies often indicate who’ll win Oscars. Some think ‘The Crying Game’ could make a stronger showing than expected.

“The Crying Game” and “The Player,” two movies with plotlines that defy mainstream Hollywood themes, won top honors from the Writers Guild of America on Monday night.

“The Crying Game,” a story of sexual illusion set against the backdrop of Irish Republican Army terrorism, was written and directed by Neil Jordan. The film won in the best original screenplay category, and its victory is seen as foreshadowing the results of the same category in the Academy Awards, in which it faces the same group of rivals.

“The Player,” a scathing satire on the movie business, won in the best adapted screenplay category. Writer Michael Tolkin picked up his award for his adaptation of his own novel.

Because of the proximity of the Writers Guild awards to the Academy Awards, interest during a black-tie, dinner ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel was focused more on the two feature film prizes than those for television writing. There is more than ample precedent for the guild winners to go on to claim Oscars.

Observers see the wins as an indication that “The Crying Game,” a best picture nominee, could make a stronger showing than expected at the Oscars.

“The Crying Game’s” rivals for the guild prize--and for the Oscar for best original screenplay--were Woody Allen for “Husbands and Wives,” George Miller and Nick Enright for “Lorenzo’s Oil,” John Sayles for “Passion Fish” and David Webb Peoples for “Unforgiven.”

In the guild award for adapted screenplay, “The Player,” also an Oscar nominee, was matched against David Mamet for “Glengarry Glen Ross” and three Oscar nominees: Peter Barnes for “Enchanted April,” Ruth Prawer Jhabvala for “Howards End” and Bo Goldman for “Scent of a Woman.”

In the television categories, the ABC pilot for the series “Homefront” was named best original long-form teleplay. The pilot, “Snafu,” was written by series creators Lynn Latham and Bernard Lechowick, the former producers of “Knots Landing.”

Ann Beckett collected the best adapted long-form teleplay prize for “Broken Cord,” which she adapted from the book of the same name by Michael Dorris. “Broken Cord” starred Jimmy Smits as a father who adopts a boy impaired by fetal alcohol syndrome.

Dramatic series honors went to Henry Bromell for the “Amazing Grace” episode of NBC’s “I’ll Fly Away.” In comedy series, Diane English won for the “Uh-Oh, Part II” episode of CBS’ “Murphy Brown,” which was based on a storyline by Korby Slamis and English.

A satire of Madonna’s “Truth or Dare” film documentary, shown on Showtime, won in the variety/musical writing category. The program, “Medusa: Dare to Be Truthful,” was written by Julie Brown and Charlie Coffey.

Other Categories

Daytime serials: The 17-member writing team for ABC’s “One Life to Live.”

Children’s script: Darryl Busby, Susan Amerikaner for Disney’s “Pretzelmania (Adventures in Wonderland).”

Documentary current events: Rory O’Connor for PBS’ “The Bank of Crooks and Criminals.”

Documentary: David Grubin for PBS’ “The American Experience: LBJ.”

TV spot news script: Jerry Cipriano, Hugh Heckman and Thomas Phillips for “CBS Evening News: Hurricane Andrew.”

Radio spot news: Joel H. Kormisarow for “Dan Rather Reporting: Vietnam Memorial.”

Radio documentary: Brian Seligson and Joel H. Kormisarow, CBS’ “Coming of Age in America.”

On-air promotion: Tracy L. Beckerman of WCBS-TV.