A Best Actor Oscar will float between Tom Hanks in “Captain Phillips,” about piracy at sea, and Robert Redford in “All Is Lost,” about survival at sea. So gorgeous Redford with his gorgeous clothes and teeth, gorgeous life and wife, what’s this guy really know from seafaring?

“I know lots about water,” he said. “I’ve been in or near the water always. I grew up in Santa Monica. I surfed as a kid. Even now I swim every day to stay in shape.”
In this two-hour film — adrift, fighting for life amid the elements and allness of God’s huge ocean — the rescue is his acting ability. Speaking only 20 words, he never loses the audience.

“It’s like, in real life I had to think to myself, what would I do were I actually in this same predicament? What else can you do? This film is so true to life because that’s what my character did — improvise. What else can you do? If this happened in real life, it’s what I think I’d do. Improvise.

“I really enjoyed the whole idea as an actor. Doing my own stunts at times it was a little tough. I was scared. Once I just jumped into a raft to save myself. The boat itself gave me no trouble in shooting except for the sail.”

Filming in the Indian Ocean off Sumatra, the crew worked three months in advance readying the boats and pool in which it was filmed.

Then, reminiscing about his early days: “My first screen test was for producer Ray Stark and Jane Fonda. I don’t remember where, what I wore or what I said. I only remember I didn’t get the part.”

Talkative director J.C. Chandor wrote the script where his star says few lines. At one point Redford told Chandor: “For a guy who writes no dialogue you’re very loquacious.”

All quiet in the capital

About the government shutdown? Washington should shut up:

Our treasured capital protects sacred ground, a forever tribute dedicated to all who served, defended and died for our country. The World War II Memorial: Citizens who just visited there say two park rangers were guarding now shut front gates. But around the back or sides or corners? Little open slits.

Sufficient for patriotic Americans to wriggle through.

Guarding such an obscure but passable entry at this newly locked-up perpetual memorial? And let nobody say I’ve drunk the Kool-Aid. It was one lone solitary sentry. Blind. With a cane.

Hockey deals

Former Rangers captain Ron Greschner, at Flex Mussels restaurant, said Derek Stepan just re-signed with the team, two years for $6.15 million. A Ranger 16 years, Greschner earned $4.5 mil . . . Stephanie Simon: “My first place was a loft. I had a mattress on the floor, no furniture. And my artist friends drew all over the walls. My landlady wasn’t happy.”

Weighty issue

This new George Clooney/Sandra Bullock outerspace movie is making everyone crazy. One devotee just bought a book about anti-gravity. He says he can’t put it down.

Undead bash

Oct. 25, 10 p.m., Snooki, JWoww and assorted undead will get their zombies on with MTV and Brandon Voss’ “A Night of the Living Drag” Halloween party. Crypt: The Providence Nightclub. DJ is Lady Bunny. To conspire with drag mediums a Séance Room will be downstairs.

Metal book

Being Halloween, next month comes DaCapo’s charming first of two volumes, “Metallica: Birth, School, Death.” Starting in a scuzzy garage, the band sold 100 million albums and grabbed nine Grammys. The sweet read has tension, loss, death, tragedy, drama, pain, excess, chapters titled “Creeping Death,” “Damage,” “Blackened” and “The Frayed Ends of Sanity.”

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More Halloween: A flier pasted on 7th Avenue said: “Wanted: Witches for the Coven. Good news. Witchcraft Might Be For You! Master making potions, Speak in tongues. Beginner courses in developing spells.”

Only in New York, kids, only in New York.