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CNN Live Today

On the Big Screen

Aired December 27, 2002 - 10:45   ET

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


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


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Unwrapping gifts and visiting family, not the only holiday traditions. Going to the movies has become one, too. And this season there is a lot to choose from, including a movie that has gone from Broadway to the big screen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are the Thelma Kelley. You know, I was there that night. I was there the night that you got arrested.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, you and half of Chicago. Look at this, mama -- an editorial denouncing me in "Red Book" magazine. Not in memory, did we recall, so fiendish and horrible.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Baby, couldn't buy that kind of publicity.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Couldn't buy it? I guess I can keep this, then.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Let's talk some about this movie, "Chicago" and others. Mr. Moviefone, also known as Russ Leatherman, joins us now to talk a little bit about the scoop on "Chicago." I see some big stars there -- Rene Zelweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Queen Latifah, and more..

RUSS LEATHERMAN, "MR. MOVIEFONE": Yes, Fredricka, this movie is big. It's probably my favorite movie of the holiday season.

WHITFIELD: Yes?

LEATHERMAN: I think because I wasn't expecting so much, and I really got a great movie. I think what moviegoers are going to like about this is the music is terrific. It's very crisp, sharp editing, the visuals are great. Rene Zelweger is terrific. Catherine Zeta- Jones is really great. And even Richard Gere, you know, after the first 10, 15 minutes of realizing that he's actually in the movie, you even start to like him, too. So this movie is terrific, and moviegoers are really going to like it.

WHITFIELD: You think you like this more in movie form, than you do on stage?

LEATHERMAN: Well, it's funny. I didn't see it on stage.

WHITFIELD: Oh, well. LEATHERMAN: And I think the only people who might take issue with it will be the ones who say, oh, it's not nearly as good as the stage production. I don't know about that. I know the movie is great, though.

WHITFIELD: All right, some real serious hard-hitters in there. And in -- Leonardo DiCaprio, finally, we're seeing him, possibly, in what looks to be a pretty successful movie, "Catch Me If You Can".

LEATHERMAN: Well, I think so. I think this is going to be a successful, and it's a lot of fun. It's another one of those holiday movies that you go to the theater, you spend your 9 bucks, you're happy you saw it. It's a really fun kind of caper movie. Tom Hanks is terrific. Leo is really good. And it's a Steven Spielberg movie, so it can't be all bad. And this is one of his kind of more light- hearted entertainments, I think. And so, I think this is another one of those where moviegoers, you go, you spend your money and you're thinking, yes, I'm glad I spent the money to go see this movie.

WHITFIELD: OK. "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind." I hadn't even heard of that. What this one all about?

LEATHERMAN: Well, this is one of the more quirky movies of the holiday season, I think. I don't know if you remember Chuck Barris from "The Gong Show"...

WHITFIELD: I do.

LEATHERMAN: But this -- yes, this movie is about his life, directed by George Clooney, his directorial debut. And it's really about his life. And Chuck Barris actually believed that he was a CIA operative, that when he was going off with his contestants who had won "The Newlywed Game" or on "The Gong Show," that he was going off and he was spying and he was killing people. Now he believes this to be true. Whether it's true or not, we don't really know, but it makes for a fascinating case study and a really good movie.

WHITFIELD: OK. It sounds -- this is three for three, so far.

LEATHERMAN: So far.

WHITFIELD: All right. "The Hours," that looks riveting. That really does looks like a great movie, and some great heavy hitters in that one, as well.

LEATHERMAN: Well, I think so. You know, the great time about this time of year is you not only get the big block busters, but you get movies like "The Hours," some more serious kind of specialty fare. You know, people are talking that Julianme Moore, Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, I man, maybe they can all get nominated for an Oscar. They did well with the Golden Globes. And it's certainly more serious fare. And I'm guessing that the ladies are probably going to be a little more interested in it than the men. But -- and I'm not calling it a chick flick, I'm just saying it's serious and it's with...

WHITFIELD: Well, what is it really about? LEATHERMAN: Well, it's about the stories of Virginia Wolf, and it's really three separate stories about different times and very pivotal times in each woman's life. So you really have to be willing to follow the stories of the women. And like I say, it's a fascinating story, and it's done really well. But I'm guessing it's a little more for the ladies than maybe some of the guys.

WHITFIELD: All right. There seem to be an awful lot to choose from this holiday season. And this is, traditionally, a great time to go to the movies. And it seems like you've got a lot of heavy hitters all at once. Leo DiCaprio, you mentioned, you know, him being in this new movie. But, you know, he's also in "Gangs of New York," so he's got two.

LEATHERMAN: He does have two.

WHITFIELD: And both those movies are critically acclaimed, right?

LEATHERMAN: Well, they're both doing very well. And I would suggest, the four movies we talked about and, certainly, "Gangs of New York," I mean, this is a hard-hitting, this is a gritty movie, Scorcese at his best. And he's really telling us a story of how the immigrants came to New York and it's not the pretty picture some might expect. It's tough, it's down, it's dirty, but he does a great job. Daniel Day-Lewis is spectacular in this movie. And I think people are going to watch him and go, wow. He does such a great job.

So again, another terrific holiday movie. You know, you have so many choices out there that, you know, if you go with one of these we've talked about, you're not going to go wrong.

WHITFIELD: And DiCaprio had mentioned how difficult it was to land the right kind of role, after doing the "Titanic" with that kind of success. And now it looks like he's got two.

LEATHERMAN: Yes. I think he's done a great job. And like I said, Daniel Day-Lewis is spectacular. And so, it's a movie that I think everybody -- again, it's a little long, it's almost three hours, so you know, you might need time for a potty break in there. But you know, all great movies, and I couldn't be happier for this time of year.

WHITFIELD: Right.

LEATHERMAN: For a movie man, it's a good time to see movies.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks, very much, Russ. Appreciate it.

LEATHERMAN: All right. Well, we'll see you next time. Bye-.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired December 27, 2002 - 10:45   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Unwrapping gifts and visiting family, not the only holiday traditions. Going to the movies has become one, too. And this season there is a lot to choose from, including a movie that has gone from Broadway to the big screen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are the Thelma Kelley. You know, I was there that night. I was there the night that you got arrested.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, you and half of Chicago. Look at this, mama -- an editorial denouncing me in "Red Book" magazine. Not in memory, did we recall, so fiendish and horrible.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Baby, couldn't buy that kind of publicity.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Couldn't buy it? I guess I can keep this, then.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Let's talk some about this movie, "Chicago" and others. Mr. Moviefone, also known as Russ Leatherman, joins us now to talk a little bit about the scoop on "Chicago." I see some big stars there -- Rene Zelweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Queen Latifah, and more..

RUSS LEATHERMAN, "MR. MOVIEFONE": Yes, Fredricka, this movie is big. It's probably my favorite movie of the holiday season.

WHITFIELD: Yes?

LEATHERMAN: I think because I wasn't expecting so much, and I really got a great movie. I think what moviegoers are going to like about this is the music is terrific. It's very crisp, sharp editing, the visuals are great. Rene Zelweger is terrific. Catherine Zeta- Jones is really great. And even Richard Gere, you know, after the first 10, 15 minutes of realizing that he's actually in the movie, you even start to like him, too. So this movie is terrific, and moviegoers are really going to like it.

WHITFIELD: You think you like this more in movie form, than you do on stage?

LEATHERMAN: Well, it's funny. I didn't see it on stage.

WHITFIELD: Oh, well. LEATHERMAN: And I think the only people who might take issue with it will be the ones who say, oh, it's not nearly as good as the stage production. I don't know about that. I know the movie is great, though.

WHITFIELD: All right, some real serious hard-hitters in there. And in -- Leonardo DiCaprio, finally, we're seeing him, possibly, in what looks to be a pretty successful movie, "Catch Me If You Can".

LEATHERMAN: Well, I think so. I think this is going to be a successful, and it's a lot of fun. It's another one of those holiday movies that you go to the theater, you spend your 9 bucks, you're happy you saw it. It's a really fun kind of caper movie. Tom Hanks is terrific. Leo is really good. And it's a Steven Spielberg movie, so it can't be all bad. And this is one of his kind of more light- hearted entertainments, I think. And so, I think this is another one of those where moviegoers, you go, you spend your money and you're thinking, yes, I'm glad I spent the money to go see this movie.

WHITFIELD: OK. "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind." I hadn't even heard of that. What this one all about?

LEATHERMAN: Well, this is one of the more quirky movies of the holiday season, I think. I don't know if you remember Chuck Barris from "The Gong Show"...

WHITFIELD: I do.

LEATHERMAN: But this -- yes, this movie is about his life, directed by George Clooney, his directorial debut. And it's really about his life. And Chuck Barris actually believed that he was a CIA operative, that when he was going off with his contestants who had won "The Newlywed Game" or on "The Gong Show," that he was going off and he was spying and he was killing people. Now he believes this to be true. Whether it's true or not, we don't really know, but it makes for a fascinating case study and a really good movie.

WHITFIELD: OK. It sounds -- this is three for three, so far.

LEATHERMAN: So far.

WHITFIELD: All right. "The Hours," that looks riveting. That really does looks like a great movie, and some great heavy hitters in that one, as well.

LEATHERMAN: Well, I think so. You know, the great time about this time of year is you not only get the big block busters, but you get movies like "The Hours," some more serious kind of specialty fare. You know, people are talking that Julianme Moore, Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, I man, maybe they can all get nominated for an Oscar. They did well with the Golden Globes. And it's certainly more serious fare. And I'm guessing that the ladies are probably going to be a little more interested in it than the men. But -- and I'm not calling it a chick flick, I'm just saying it's serious and it's with...

WHITFIELD: Well, what is it really about? LEATHERMAN: Well, it's about the stories of Virginia Wolf, and it's really three separate stories about different times and very pivotal times in each woman's life. So you really have to be willing to follow the stories of the women. And like I say, it's a fascinating story, and it's done really well. But I'm guessing it's a little more for the ladies than maybe some of the guys.

WHITFIELD: All right. There seem to be an awful lot to choose from this holiday season. And this is, traditionally, a great time to go to the movies. And it seems like you've got a lot of heavy hitters all at once. Leo DiCaprio, you mentioned, you know, him being in this new movie. But, you know, he's also in "Gangs of New York," so he's got two.

LEATHERMAN: He does have two.

WHITFIELD: And both those movies are critically acclaimed, right?

LEATHERMAN: Well, they're both doing very well. And I would suggest, the four movies we talked about and, certainly, "Gangs of New York," I mean, this is a hard-hitting, this is a gritty movie, Scorcese at his best. And he's really telling us a story of how the immigrants came to New York and it's not the pretty picture some might expect. It's tough, it's down, it's dirty, but he does a great job. Daniel Day-Lewis is spectacular in this movie. And I think people are going to watch him and go, wow. He does such a great job.

So again, another terrific holiday movie. You know, you have so many choices out there that, you know, if you go with one of these we've talked about, you're not going to go wrong.

WHITFIELD: And DiCaprio had mentioned how difficult it was to land the right kind of role, after doing the "Titanic" with that kind of success. And now it looks like he's got two.

LEATHERMAN: Yes. I think he's done a great job. And like I said, Daniel Day-Lewis is spectacular. And so, it's a movie that I think everybody -- again, it's a little long, it's almost three hours, so you know, you might need time for a potty break in there. But you know, all great movies, and I couldn't be happier for this time of year.

WHITFIELD: Right.

LEATHERMAN: For a movie man, it's a good time to see movies.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks, very much, Russ. Appreciate it.

LEATHERMAN: All right. Well, we'll see you next time. Bye-.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com