The first thing I thought upon viewing the new trailer to the much-buzzed-about "The Reader" was: uh-oh, Kate Winslet's performance is not supporting, which is its official Oscar campaign classification.

Obviously, it's a lead role and one that poses a serious threat to her other lead role this derby season — the one she prefers in "Revolutionary Road," probably because her hubby Sam Mendes directed the flick. There's so much Oscar bait in "The Reader" that Kate could hook a whole school of academy fish. It's a Holocaust pic. She has an accent. We see her age over many decades. She sacrifices her beauty to show us how she's ravaged by tragedy. Compare all that to what we see of her in "Road" — nothing truly revolutionary. Looks a lot like the usual Kate, which is always good, but, hey, we're talking Oscars here.

Poor Kate Winslet — a five-time loser so far — can't do anything about this possible Oscars mess without insulting her husband, of course. However, if it turns out that she really is more Oscary in "Reader" — and that's a big if — then academy members can easily ignore her campaigns and put either role in any category they wish. That's what happened to Keisha Castle-Hughes, who campaigned in supporting for "Whale Rider" in 2002, but was placed in lead by voters.

(Weinstein Co., Paramount Vantage)