Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Interview With Mr. Moviefone

Aired January 17, 2003 - 10:53   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Sunday night is going to be a night for stargazing as some of Hollywood's biggest and brightest stars come out for the 60th annual Golden Globe awards.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: That is right, but you know what, it is not just Sunday night, it's the whole weekend, and Daryn Kagan is going to fill us in on all the festivities taking place, starting now -- Daryn.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Fred, Leon. It is great to see you. Also, Leon, you think I come out here and just hang out with movie stars. I also have found one of our old friends on CNN LIVE TODAY. Look who is here with me, Leon. Russ Leatherman, "Mr. Moviefone."

RUSS LEATHERMAN, "MR. MOVIEFONE": Hey, Leon.

HARRIS: Hey, Russ. Hey, my man.

KAGAN: Leon is sending his best.

LEATHERMAN: I love Leon.

KAGAN: We all love Leon. In fact, we could use a whole three- minute segment talking about love Leon...

(CROSSTALK)

LEATHERMAN: Let's not do that.

HARRIS: Let's do that. Let's do that.

KAGAN: The story of my life is people who love Leon. I want to talk movies.

LEATHERMAN: I love you more. Just so you know.

KAGAN: Watch out. Watch out.

Let's go right to "Chicago."

LEATHERMAN: Sure.

KAGAN: OK. This is -- one that that is interesting about the Globes, you have separate categories. It's not just drama. You have a separate musical and comedy category. This has got to be one of the favorites. LEATHERMAN: I think it is one of the favorites. I mean, it is certainly one of the favorites for moviegoers. This is one of those movies during the holiday season that you can go to. You watch singing, dancing, you enjoy, and you walk out of the theater kind of happy you spent your nine bucks.

KAGAN: It's fun.

LEATHERMAN: It is totally fun. So like you say, the great thing is that this is one of the movies that actually has a chance to win in this awards show. So I think it's going to be big. Actresses, how can you beat that movie? It is all good.

KAGAN: Katherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger, throw in Richard Gere, and Queen Latifah. I met her in the hotel lobby last night.

LEATHERMAN: Wow. You are just getting in with the stars, aren't you?

KAGAN: I'm hobnobbing.

LEATHERMAN: And the nice thing about "Chicago" is really, even after the first 15 minutes of Richard Gere, you still like the movie. I'm serious.

KAGAN: There are a lot of Richard Gere fans out there.

LEATHERMAN: You know what? He was pretty good. First fifteen minutes is rough, though.

KAGAN: You want to talk about a movie that people -- took a lot of people by surprise and was a huge box office smash, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." Now, as popular as it was, a lot of people said, Well, it is just a kind of a big TV sitcom on the movie screen.

LEATHERMAN: Well, I think that's true. I mean, it definitely was one of those movie that captured the imagination of movie-goers. A lot of critics went to see it and said, Hey, this is certainly a good movie, but does it deserve all the accolades? But that doesn't really matter, because movie-goers loved it. Biggest independent film of all time. And again, it's one of those movies that has a chance to win in an awards show like this. So -- it is great that not only can a very serious dramatic movie kind of win here, but Nia might win, this movie might win. It's a great format for us.

KAGAN: And it could have a better chance on Sunday night than at the Oscars, because it probably won't be taken as seriously.

LEATHERMAN: I would say that's a safe bet.

KAGAN: Let's talk about making a little bit of history, and Jack Nicholson can make some history, nominated for "About Schmidt," which is definitely his movie, a huge performance. A man who becomes a widower during the movie, and takes a journey trying to convince his daughter not to get married to Dermot Mulroney. Why anybody would not want to be married to Dermot Mulroney, I am not really sure. LEATHERMAN: That is a whole 'nother question. We could spend three minutes on that. But I really loved this movie, it was very serious. Jack Nicholson, you know, wasn't over the top. He was just kind of -- gave a great performance, and you were saying that -- you thought it was maybe a little depressing, that you weren't as into it as I was, but I thought it was pretty funny. And I just thought it had funny moments, and I just thought that he did an absolutely great job. I think he deserves to win.

KAGAN: He's good. We should also quickly mention Kathy Bates, nominated for best supporting actress. Does a nude scene in a hot tub with Jack Nicholson, and I thought she was excellent.

LEATHERMAN: That's worth the $9 right there.

KAGAN: Right there. Right there.

LEATHERMAN: And it is so great because not only do we have these awards to think about, but new movies this week. It's kind of like moviegoer whiplash, because you go from these great movies to "Kangaroo Jack." How do make that...

(CROSSTALK)

KAGAN: Yes -- they're yelling at us that we have to go, but I will tell Fred and Leon, he is saying -- Mr. Moviefone says don't bother with "Kangaroo Jack".

HARRIS: Good, now you tell me.

WHITFIELD: That wasn't on my list, actually.

HARRIS: It's on my kids' list, though. May be stuck with that one.

WHITFIELD: Oh, well. You are going then.

KAGAN: We'll see you a little later.

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 January 17, 2003 - 10:53   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Sunday night is going to be a night for stargazing as some of Hollywood's biggest and brightest stars come out for the 60th annual Golden Globe awards.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: That is right, but you know what, it is not just Sunday night, it's the whole weekend, and Daryn Kagan is going to fill us in on all the festivities taking place, starting now -- Daryn.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Fred, Leon. It is great to see you. Also, Leon, you think I come out here and just hang out with movie stars. I also have found one of our old friends on CNN LIVE TODAY. Look who is here with me, Leon. Russ Leatherman, "Mr. Moviefone."

RUSS LEATHERMAN, "MR. MOVIEFONE": Hey, Leon.

HARRIS: Hey, Russ. Hey, my man.

KAGAN: Leon is sending his best.

LEATHERMAN: I love Leon.

KAGAN: We all love Leon. In fact, we could use a whole three- minute segment talking about love Leon...

(CROSSTALK)

LEATHERMAN: Let's not do that.

HARRIS: Let's do that. Let's do that.

KAGAN: The story of my life is people who love Leon. I want to talk movies.

LEATHERMAN: I love you more. Just so you know.

KAGAN: Watch out. Watch out.

Let's go right to "Chicago."

LEATHERMAN: Sure.

KAGAN: OK. This is -- one that that is interesting about the Globes, you have separate categories. It's not just drama. You have a separate musical and comedy category. This has got to be one of the favorites. LEATHERMAN: I think it is one of the favorites. I mean, it is certainly one of the favorites for moviegoers. This is one of those movies during the holiday season that you can go to. You watch singing, dancing, you enjoy, and you walk out of the theater kind of happy you spent your nine bucks.

KAGAN: It's fun.

LEATHERMAN: It is totally fun. So like you say, the great thing is that this is one of the movies that actually has a chance to win in this awards show. So I think it's going to be big. Actresses, how can you beat that movie? It is all good.

KAGAN: Katherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger, throw in Richard Gere, and Queen Latifah. I met her in the hotel lobby last night.

LEATHERMAN: Wow. You are just getting in with the stars, aren't you?

KAGAN: I'm hobnobbing.

LEATHERMAN: And the nice thing about "Chicago" is really, even after the first 15 minutes of Richard Gere, you still like the movie. I'm serious.

KAGAN: There are a lot of Richard Gere fans out there.

LEATHERMAN: You know what? He was pretty good. First fifteen minutes is rough, though.

KAGAN: You want to talk about a movie that people -- took a lot of people by surprise and was a huge box office smash, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." Now, as popular as it was, a lot of people said, Well, it is just a kind of a big TV sitcom on the movie screen.

LEATHERMAN: Well, I think that's true. I mean, it definitely was one of those movie that captured the imagination of movie-goers. A lot of critics went to see it and said, Hey, this is certainly a good movie, but does it deserve all the accolades? But that doesn't really matter, because movie-goers loved it. Biggest independent film of all time. And again, it's one of those movies that has a chance to win in an awards show like this. So -- it is great that not only can a very serious dramatic movie kind of win here, but Nia might win, this movie might win. It's a great format for us.

KAGAN: And it could have a better chance on Sunday night than at the Oscars, because it probably won't be taken as seriously.

LEATHERMAN: I would say that's a safe bet.

KAGAN: Let's talk about making a little bit of history, and Jack Nicholson can make some history, nominated for "About Schmidt," which is definitely his movie, a huge performance. A man who becomes a widower during the movie, and takes a journey trying to convince his daughter not to get married to Dermot Mulroney. Why anybody would not want to be married to Dermot Mulroney, I am not really sure. LEATHERMAN: That is a whole 'nother question. We could spend three minutes on that. But I really loved this movie, it was very serious. Jack Nicholson, you know, wasn't over the top. He was just kind of -- gave a great performance, and you were saying that -- you thought it was maybe a little depressing, that you weren't as into it as I was, but I thought it was pretty funny. And I just thought it had funny moments, and I just thought that he did an absolutely great job. I think he deserves to win.

KAGAN: He's good. We should also quickly mention Kathy Bates, nominated for best supporting actress. Does a nude scene in a hot tub with Jack Nicholson, and I thought she was excellent.

LEATHERMAN: That's worth the $9 right there.

KAGAN: Right there. Right there.

LEATHERMAN: And it is so great because not only do we have these awards to think about, but new movies this week. It's kind of like moviegoer whiplash, because you go from these great movies to "Kangaroo Jack." How do make that...

(CROSSTALK)

KAGAN: Yes -- they're yelling at us that we have to go, but I will tell Fred and Leon, he is saying -- Mr. Moviefone says don't bother with "Kangaroo Jack".

HARRIS: Good, now you tell me.

WHITFIELD: That wasn't on my list, actually.

HARRIS: It's on my kids' list, though. May be stuck with that one.

WHITFIELD: Oh, well. You are going then.

KAGAN: We'll see you a little later.

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