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CNN Live Today

Look At a Couple of Oscar Races That Some Might Call Shoo-ins

Aired February 26, 2004 - 10:47   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.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: When the Academy Awards are doled out this coming Sunday, almost anything can happen. CNN's Daryn Kagan is live in Los Angeles with a look at a couple of Oscar races that some people might actually call shoo-ins. You think, Daryn?
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: No such thing on Oscar Sunday. Heidi, let me ask you this. Of all the movies, how many do you think you've seen to be ready for Oscar Sunday?

COLLINS: I see a lot of movies but I always end up looking at some of the nominees and seeing at least two or three that I haven't seen.

KAGAN: Exactly. So that's why I'm here today. Consider this day kind of like Oscar boot camp. We're going get you and our viewers ready. OK? So take notes. Get that pen ready.

We're going to talk about best actress first. And I have some help from some friends in out here is Hollywood. We have Michael Speier from "Variety" and Zoriana Kit from "People" magazine. They've seen everything. They can tell us about everything.

Let's talk best actress. First, let's put the nominees up so people know exactly who we're talking about. Keisha Castle-Huges in "Whale Rider;" she's the youngest nominee ever in that category. Diane Keaton is "Something's Got to Give," Samantha Morton "In America," Charlize Theron "Monster," Naomi Watts in "21 Grams."

Michael, we'll start with you. Charlize Theron. All the awards leading up to Oscar Sunday, it really looks like this is her year.

MICHAEL SPEIER, "VARIETY": Yes, it just feels like this is the performance of the five that really makes something special of the category. And it looks like it's her year. She's won all the major awards. And it's maybe her time.

KAGAN: And, Zoriana, we Charlize Theron (UNINTELLIGIBLE) a lot of things that Hollywood loves. They love an actress in a prostitute role for some reason. They love it when someone beautiful makes themselves ugly. But she also she really does some solid acting in this movie.

ZORIANA KIT, "PEOPLE": Yes, she does. She created a whole stance for this character. Not to mention the physical transformation. Her acting was amazing. And this stuff with all -- the Academy loves to reward. KAGAN: But if there is a surprise, Michael, on Oscar Sunday perhaps it could be Diane Keaton, an Academy favorite? And she's won once before.

SPEIER: That's right. Also, she has some pedigree here recently. I mean she did win the Golden Globe for the comedy/musical category. So if there's a little bit of a horse race, these are the two. But maybe Charlize, this feels like...

(CROSSTALK)

KAGAN: Let's talk best director. This is going to have some names INTERVIEW her that people are going to be like, Who? Because the first one, Fernando Meirelles "City of God," a Brazilian film. Peter Jackson "Lord of the Rings." If you haven't heard of him by now, well, don't even bother tuning in on Sunday. Sophia Coppola -- only the third woman ever nominated for best director for "Lost in Translation." Peter Weir, "Master and Commander." And Clint Eastwood ,"Mystic River."

Michael, once again, Peter Jackson, he has not just pulled off this movie, but Oscar -- Hollywood history as well for "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

SPEIER: That's right. I mean this could be just a general thank you for what many consider to be one of the most successful and best trilogies in cinema history.

KAGAN: And what about you, Zoriana? Peter Jackson a shoo-in even though he doesn't like to wear shoe?

KIT: Yes. It will definitely be Peter Jackson only because this is, like you said, rewarding for work well done for all three movies. But also, this is one man's vision. Never has a movie been so singularly one person's vision. And it's Peter Jackson.

KAGAN: The other part that's interesting, and I mentioned this about Sophia Coppola. Not only do you have Hollywood royalty here, but you do have Hollywood history. I mean as a woman, doesn't it just amaze you that she's only the third woman nominated in this category?

KIT: I think the nomination is her reward. Definitely you will see her win an Oscar someday, probably not this year.

But it's fantastic for her to be nominated. And she will eventually win.

KAGAN: Perhaps do you think she'll be rewarded for best original screenplay?

SPEIER: Exactly. That's the category, if this movie gets something along with, Bill Murray, possibly because he's won a few here and there, best original screenplay for Sophia Coppola. Watch out, that might be her category as well.

KAGAN: One thing that's fun to do on Oscar Sunday, you like to predict who will win. But when you see these movies you also get your own favorite personal about who should win.

So if you were passing out best director, and forget all the money that "Lord of the Rings" has made, who would you give it to?

SPEIER: Well I'm a "Lost in Translation." I love the movie. I just think it's a remarkable achievement. It's a little small for what this is, it's still two people in a bar. But I still love the movie and I just think Sophia did a great job.

KAGAN: Zoriana, what about you?

KIT: Clint Eastwood. That movie had so much humanity, so much emotion. He directed all of those actors to Academy Award nominations. Marcia Gay Harden, Sean Penn, Tim Robbins. I think he deserves to win best director.

KAGAN: Very good. All right, we'll be watching. Zoriana Kit, "People" magazine, Michael Speier, "Variety," thanks for your insight. Appreciate it.

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





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Aired February 26, 2004 - 10:47   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: When the Academy Awards are doled out this coming Sunday, almost anything can happen. CNN's Daryn Kagan is live in Los Angeles with a look at a couple of Oscar races that some people might actually call shoo-ins. You think, Daryn?
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: No such thing on Oscar Sunday. Heidi, let me ask you this. Of all the movies, how many do you think you've seen to be ready for Oscar Sunday?

COLLINS: I see a lot of movies but I always end up looking at some of the nominees and seeing at least two or three that I haven't seen.

KAGAN: Exactly. So that's why I'm here today. Consider this day kind of like Oscar boot camp. We're going get you and our viewers ready. OK? So take notes. Get that pen ready.

We're going to talk about best actress first. And I have some help from some friends in out here is Hollywood. We have Michael Speier from "Variety" and Zoriana Kit from "People" magazine. They've seen everything. They can tell us about everything.

Let's talk best actress. First, let's put the nominees up so people know exactly who we're talking about. Keisha Castle-Huges in "Whale Rider;" she's the youngest nominee ever in that category. Diane Keaton is "Something's Got to Give," Samantha Morton "In America," Charlize Theron "Monster," Naomi Watts in "21 Grams."

Michael, we'll start with you. Charlize Theron. All the awards leading up to Oscar Sunday, it really looks like this is her year.

MICHAEL SPEIER, "VARIETY": Yes, it just feels like this is the performance of the five that really makes something special of the category. And it looks like it's her year. She's won all the major awards. And it's maybe her time.

KAGAN: And, Zoriana, we Charlize Theron (UNINTELLIGIBLE) a lot of things that Hollywood loves. They love an actress in a prostitute role for some reason. They love it when someone beautiful makes themselves ugly. But she also she really does some solid acting in this movie.

ZORIANA KIT, "PEOPLE": Yes, she does. She created a whole stance for this character. Not to mention the physical transformation. Her acting was amazing. And this stuff with all -- the Academy loves to reward. KAGAN: But if there is a surprise, Michael, on Oscar Sunday perhaps it could be Diane Keaton, an Academy favorite? And she's won once before.

SPEIER: That's right. Also, she has some pedigree here recently. I mean she did win the Golden Globe for the comedy/musical category. So if there's a little bit of a horse race, these are the two. But maybe Charlize, this feels like...

(CROSSTALK)

KAGAN: Let's talk best director. This is going to have some names INTERVIEW her that people are going to be like, Who? Because the first one, Fernando Meirelles "City of God," a Brazilian film. Peter Jackson "Lord of the Rings." If you haven't heard of him by now, well, don't even bother tuning in on Sunday. Sophia Coppola -- only the third woman ever nominated for best director for "Lost in Translation." Peter Weir, "Master and Commander." And Clint Eastwood ,"Mystic River."

Michael, once again, Peter Jackson, he has not just pulled off this movie, but Oscar -- Hollywood history as well for "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

SPEIER: That's right. I mean this could be just a general thank you for what many consider to be one of the most successful and best trilogies in cinema history.

KAGAN: And what about you, Zoriana? Peter Jackson a shoo-in even though he doesn't like to wear shoe?

KIT: Yes. It will definitely be Peter Jackson only because this is, like you said, rewarding for work well done for all three movies. But also, this is one man's vision. Never has a movie been so singularly one person's vision. And it's Peter Jackson.

KAGAN: The other part that's interesting, and I mentioned this about Sophia Coppola. Not only do you have Hollywood royalty here, but you do have Hollywood history. I mean as a woman, doesn't it just amaze you that she's only the third woman nominated in this category?

KIT: I think the nomination is her reward. Definitely you will see her win an Oscar someday, probably not this year.

But it's fantastic for her to be nominated. And she will eventually win.

KAGAN: Perhaps do you think she'll be rewarded for best original screenplay?

SPEIER: Exactly. That's the category, if this movie gets something along with, Bill Murray, possibly because he's won a few here and there, best original screenplay for Sophia Coppola. Watch out, that might be her category as well.

KAGAN: One thing that's fun to do on Oscar Sunday, you like to predict who will win. But when you see these movies you also get your own favorite personal about who should win.

So if you were passing out best director, and forget all the money that "Lord of the Rings" has made, who would you give it to?

SPEIER: Well I'm a "Lost in Translation." I love the movie. I just think it's a remarkable achievement. It's a little small for what this is, it's still two people in a bar. But I still love the movie and I just think Sophia did a great job.

KAGAN: Zoriana, what about you?

KIT: Clint Eastwood. That movie had so much humanity, so much emotion. He directed all of those actors to Academy Award nominations. Marcia Gay Harden, Sean Penn, Tim Robbins. I think he deserves to win best director.

KAGAN: Very good. All right, we'll be watching. Zoriana Kit, "People" magazine, Michael Speier, "Variety," thanks for your insight. Appreciate it.

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





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