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CNN Live At Daybreak

Interview of Charlie Lyons, "Variety"

Aired February 13, 2002 - 06:43   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.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUSSELL CROWE, ACTOR: You're always really gratified when you're nominated by the academy, and I've had this pretty intense last three years, you know. But don't worry, I'm not getting used to it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I bet he is, though. Actor Russell Crowe talks about his best actor nomination for "A Beautiful Mind." It is his third Oscar nod in as many years. And joining me to talk about all of this year's nominees is "Variety" magazine's Charlie Lyons. He was here yesterday morning with his predictions. Welcome again, Charlie.

CHARLIE LYONS, "VARIETY" MAGAZINE: Thanks for having me again.

COSTELLO: OK. Well let's start with best picture, shall we? We have a nice little graphic prepared with the best picture nominations. Any surprises here?

LYONS: I think "Moulin Rouge" is considered something of a surprise. "In the Bedroom" and "Lord of the Rings", "A Beautiful Mind," had been garnering a lot of award talk. And "Moulin Rouge" is a comedy, and so to nominate that is -- is delightful to Fox.

COSTELLO: Well not only is it a comedy, it was a musical, and not many people saw it either.

LYONS: Right, that's true. And I think that -- I think that Fox is really delighted to have that nomination this morning.

COSTELLO: Well the strangest thing is, let's look at the best director category. The director of "Moulin Rouge" was not nominated. Is that strange?

LYONS: It is. It's difficult to divorce a film from the person who directed it. And I think you have the same thing happening with "Black Hawk Down." Ridley Scott was nominated, but the film itself was omitted.

COSTELLO: That's strange, because in "Black Hawk Down" the director played a very important role, because most of that picture is action, right? LYONS: Yes, yes. A terrifically directed film.

COSTELLO: OK, along those same lines, let's go to the best actress category. You can see Nicole Kidman was nominated for best actress. Is that a surprise that she was nominated, but the director was not?

LYONS: Yeah. I think, also -- I mean, what was surprising to me was that Nicole Kidman wasn't nominated for "The Others," in which she has a more complete role, in my opinion.

COSTELLO: A lot of people were surprised, too, that Nicole Kidman was even nominated. In fact, some people said it was a sympathy thing because of her hardships with her now ex-husband.

LYONS: Well I don't know about that, but I also think that Naomi Watts from "Mulholland Drive" was a terrific performer and won a couple of the other nominations and got omitted by the academy on this one.

COSTELLO: So how much of a chance do you think that Halle Berry could beat out Nicole Kidman for best actress?

LYONS: Well I actually think Sissy Spacek is the favorite in that race for "In the Bedroom." I don't think that Halle Berry or Nicole Kidman is the favorite.

COSTELLO: Sissy Spacek is?

LYONS: Yes. I think her performance was terrific in "In the Bedroom." And she's been getting...

COSTELLO: And it does matter that she's is a favorite of the academy?

LYONS: Yes, it does. I mean she's been around for a while and she's shown, you know, solid performances over the years. And this is a really good performance.

COSTELLO: OK, let's look at actress in a supporting role. Any surprises here?

LYONS: Well, I mean, I think in the supporting role, I think Jennifer Connelly is really the favorite. Not necessarily a surprise anywhere there. They're all good performances. I think some people would have liked to see Jennifer Connelly be nominated for best actress rather than supporting actress.

COSTELLO: But alas she was not. Let's go to the best actor category, because Russell Crowe seems to be a shoo-in, even though Denzel Washington turned in quite an incredible performance of his movie.

LYONS: Yeah, Russell Crowe is just on a roll. He's really perfected his craft, and you know, it's a pity, because Denzel Washington's performance was great too. But I do think that the favorite is Russell Crowe.

COSTELLO: Would there be any pressure on the academy to pick Denzel Washington because, unbelievably, this is the first time that three African-American actors have been nominated ever for an Oscar.

LYONS: I don't think it's about race. I think it's about quality of performance and the quality of movie. And I think that, you know, "A Beautiful Mind" is really a terrific film, which is to take nothing away from Denzel Washington's performance in "Training Day."

COSTELLO: OK, I have to ask you about this, because "Memento" was my favorite movie of the year. It was nominated for what, screen writing? And that's it. Why?

LYONS: Well, "Memento" is not necessarily an academy-type film. I mean the academy likes to see uplifting movies. Movies that, you know, raise the human spirit. And I think "Lord of the Rings" and "A Beautiful Mind" are just that. And you see 13 nominations for "Lord of the Rings." It's validation and redemption for New Line (ph).

COSTELLO: Validation and redemption, something we all need in our lives. Thank you very much, Charlie Lyons, from "Variety", joining us this morning to talk about it. And when the Oscars do roll around we'll have you back. Thank you, Charlie.

LYONS: Thanks for having me.

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