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American Morning

Interview with Sam Rubin

Aired August 23, 2002 - 09:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: At the box office, three new summer box office contenders hit the silver screen today in what is considered the dog days for the film industry. One of them is the much-hyped "Simone" with Al Pacino.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A star is digitized. Do you know what this means? We have stepped into a new dimension.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: The virtual comedy, stars Al Pacino, takes to the big screen today. Also, Matthew Perry in "Serving Sara." That is out. And Wesley Snipes as a boxer in "Undisputed."

From L.A. now to talk about this and more, Sam Rubin, KTLA, joins us. Good to see you again, Sam. It has been a couple weeks.

SAM RUBIN, ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, KTLA: Very good to see you.

HEMMER: How does Pacino do?

RUBIN: Pacino always is compelling on the big screen, Bill, but I must confess that in this particular instance, "Simone" is a movie that desperately wants to be "Being John Malkovich," and it just isn't. It is sort of an interesting idea, Not terribly well executed, and reviews around the country have not been kind. Over long, not particularly funny. This is a movie they are really selling primarily on Pacino's star appeal and the looks of the actress who plays Simone. I don't think it is necessarily going to fair too terribly well.

HEMMER: He has not had a hit in some time that I can remember.

(CROSSTALK)

RUBIN: Yes, go ahead.

HEMMER: I wanted to talk about Winona Ryder. How does she do in this film? I take it you really liked her. Tell me why.

RUBIN: The one thing about the movie -- the premise of the film "Simone" is that there are so many petulant actresses in Hollywood, and what if you could replace one digitally. Well, Winona Ryder does a wonderful take on what one assumes Winona Ryder may be like in real life as a real difficult actress. So she is making fun of herself and that kind of image, and does it very, very effectively. You know, there have been a lot of celebrity cameos this summer. Hers is among the very, very best. It is very funny.

HEMMER: We have talked all morning about Matthew Perry. "Serving Sara" is the film, Elizabeth Hurley is in it as well. Your review says what?

RUBIN: Well, here is the dilemma for Matthew Perry. He has really been on the celebrity mule train all week. "Larry King" last night, several satellite interviews talking to virtually anybody who will listen. He wants very much to be a movie star. This is not the movie that is going to do it for Matthew Perry. The reviews have been decidedly tepid all across the country. Two appealing stars, certainly Perry and Elizabeth Hurley, but not a very appealing or effective movie.

HEMMER: And there were rumors of a romance between Hurley and Perry as well -- go ahead.

RUBIN: He sort of -- denies that a little bit. He denies that a little bit, and also people ask him all about Jennifer Capriati, because he has been seen court-side with her several times. And Perry who is a tennis player in real life, says he is not a player, and that that is just a friendship as well.

HEMMER: Well, maybe we'll leave the guy alone for a day, OK? Wesley Snipes, how does he do?

RUBIN: You know what? This is the best review of the new movies. "Undisputed," Wesley Snipes and Ving Rhames in a boxing film. The director Walter Hill, who has made some good movies, but not for a long time, is particularly effective. This is a tough movie with really gritty fight scenes. Both stars trained for months, but apparently, it actually comes off. So amongst the three, it may be, well, you know, not unlike a boxing match where the least likely one does the very best. This film should do fairly well. Playing in a fewer number of theaters, so the expectations are lower. But I think it may fare very well.

HEMMER: Got it. Thank you, Sam. Good to see you again.

RUBIN: You bet. Likewise, Bill. OK.

HEMMER: Sam Rubin, KTLA in Los Angeles with us.

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