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American Morning
New Holiday Movies Coming Out
Aired November 23, 2001 - 09:51 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, they say it is not exactly a chick flick, but the new movie "Spy Games" does have two things ladies like, Robert Redford and Brad Pitt in co-staring roles.
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ANNOUNCER: It has just been confirmed that the Chinese have arrested an American operative of the C.I.A.
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SHERRI SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Tracking spy guys Brad Pitt and Robert Redford would have taken more than a global positioning satellite as they shot their thriller "Spy Game." Behind the scenes, Budipest doubles for Berlin, Morocco becomes Beirut, add an ounce of Casablanca, and twist of London, shaken, not stirred.
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BRAD PITT, ACTOR: I thought spies drank martinis.
ROBERT REDFORD, ACTOR: Scotch. Never less than 12 years old.
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PITT: I love traveling. I've often said I wish everyone could travel. I think it would give us a lot more understanding of the world, and other people's culture. I really, really value it.
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SYLVESTER: He reunites with Redford, who, as a director cast Pitt in a "River Runs Through It." In this game, once again, Redford is the leader.
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REDFORD: You just gave her four pieces personal information for one dubious impersonal fact.
PITT: Trying to find out where she got that dress.
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PITT: It fit right into the mentor-protege relationship. So, yeah it worked -- it's nice that way. He's got good stories. He has been around.
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REDFORD: Where did you learn to shoot?
PITT: Boy Scouts, sir.
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SYLVESTER: The film follows the CIA through the dramatic changes that begin in Vietnam in 1975 to the end of the Cold War, and on through terrorist bombings in Beirut. It covers a 16-year period.
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REDFORD: And everything changed. The world stage changed. The games that had to be played in certain ways changed. The agency went into a gray zone without a standard enemy. It had been there before.
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REDFORD: Suit, in the kitchen. Threat?
PITT: Wait, how did you see that?
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REDFORD: People came on with a new way of doing things, and the character that I play gets caught right in between. And Brad's character gets caught in between. That's where the movie is.
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SYLVESTER: Four real life agents advised Pitt on his part, and he came to respect the new guard.
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PITT: These are serious guys. They are well trained, and, for me, I'm very glad they are out there. And, believe they're more pertinent than ever.
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SYLVESTER: Post-September 11th, the role of real life CIA continues to evolve. The intelligence community has intensified power under anti terrorism legislation.
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REDFORD: Basically they are saying you have to give up certain rights, perhaps, in the interest of national security. I suspect some of that's going to be right and true.
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SYLVESTER: Pitt agrees, and now that his globe-trotting spy thriller is finished, he's ready to stay home for holidays.
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PITT: There's no place I'd rather be than right here.
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SYLVESTER: Sherri Sylvester, CNN, Los Angeles.
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HARRIS: Well, "Spy Games" is just one of big box office draws this holiday movie season. Let's get a preview of some of the other movie picks out there, and the pans as well. Film critic Ronke Reeves is a frequent contributor to People Magazine, and she joins us this morning from New York. Ronke, how you doing? Good to see you on this day after Thanksgiving.
RONKE REEVES, FILM CRITIC: Okay. Good to see you as well.
HARRIS: All right, so what's been good to see?
REEVES: Well, as you mentioned, "Spy Games," is out, and it'll give the intrigue, the mystery and suspense that you need. Basically, Brad Pitt play a CIA operative who is in Chinese prison and Redford plays his mentor retiree who's -- who has to break him out. And, again, lots of violence, suspense, thriller, intrigue, you know this is for adults, not for the kids.
HARRIS: Okay. All right, speaking of the kids, got to talk about "Harry Potter". Seems like everybody is talking about "Harry Potter".
REEVES: Oh, huge, huge phenomenon. This film has hit the 100 million dollar mark in five days.
HARRIS: That's pretty phenomenal.
REEVES: Kids love it. Oh, it is pretty phenomenal. Hasn't been done since Phantom Menace came out. And the kids love it because the book is very, very true -- the film is very true to the book. HARRIS: Yeah, that's what my son said. My son was actually amazed at that.
REEVES: Yeah, they really -- they really held on with this one. And the kids are still going out to see it in droves, and they love it. "Monsters, Inc.," is another film that's out for the kids, that I think that they would like and find funny. Billy Crystal and John Goodman do the voices, and it's like a plot twist in "Monsters, Inc." is -- the children are actually what the monsters fear. So it is a nice twist, and it's very funny, very funny. Very humorous.
HARRIS: But, you know is -- how about, is this something that adults can sit through? Because, I tell you, I have been dragged to a couple those -- those Pokemon movies that just did me in.
REEVES: No, no, trust me. Trust me. Billy Crystal and John Goodman are very funny. Billy Crystal -- Billy Crystal is funny for adults and for kids in this. Everyone will love it.
HARRIS: Uh --
REEVES: And it --
HARRIS: Go ahead.
REEVES: Oh, I'm sorry. There's a little comedy for adults as well, Martin Laurence has a new film out called "Black Knight."
HARRIS: What's the word on that one? I've heard some mixed reviews about that one.
REEVES: Okay, well, it's really, I guess, for Martin Laurence fans. If you like his work, you'll probably like this film. Very -- a lot of physical humor, and some parts really make make laugh. You know how Martin is. Other parts you know, you can kind of do without. But, it's about a theme park worker who gets transported to medieval times, and basically, it's that fish out of water scenario, you know. It's Martin Laurence.
HARRIS: We know how Martin is.
REEVES: Exactly. You know what I'm talking about.
HARRIS: I know, I know. Let me ask you about another one. I may be jumping out of order here, but I got to get right to this one, because this is one, that for me has had a lot of anticipation, "Ali." So many of us have been waiting to see what Will Smith is going to look like in this movie, and whether or not it's actually going to be a good story because it doesn't even do his whole life, it just does one part of his life. What do you think about this one?
REEVES: Right. I think this is going to be a very, very huge film for Will Smith and just for the Hollywood industry as well. It comes out Christmas day, and, as you said, it does center on Ali's life from 1964 to 1974, so it will cover his conversion to Islam, it covers the Rumble in the Jungle. You know, as you heard, Will Smith put on a lot of weight for this one. This is he going a big film for him, because it is very rare that African-American actors get that epic life film, I think. Denzel Washington had it in "X", and this is a huge film for his career, so a lot of people have been saying, "I can't see Will Smith as Mohammed Ali," so we'll have to see.
HARRIS: Do you think he is believable in this role?
REEVES: I think the audiences will be very surprised. I think it shows a lot of dramatic range that he hasn't had the chance to really show us yet, and I think this is the film that his career has needed to kind of push him to the next pinnacle where he needs be acting-wise.
HARRIS: Interesting. All right, all right. Let's move on. How about -- here's one I just saw yesterday, just saw the first trailer for. "Vanilla Sky," what's this one out?
REEVES: Okay -- this one, I actually have to admit, I have not seen this yet, and they're very sketchy with the premise. It is basically about a man on a self journey, and it stars Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz. And it's based on a Spanish film called "Open Your Eyes." And this was directed by Cameron Crow, who brought us "Jerry Maguire" and "Almost Famous".
HARRIS: Looks like this "Open Your Eyes" -- Go ahead.
REEVES: This one is -- like I said, they were a little sketchy with the premise, but I think going it's going to be a good one.
HARRIS: Okay, how about -- is there any one that jumps out at you -- Let me ask you about another one I saw, a very interesting name if nothing else, "Royal Tanenbaum." What's that one about?
REEVES: This one is a very quirky film. It's brought to us by Wes Anderson who gave us Rushmore. And it stars -- this is a huge cast. Angelica Houston, Gene Hackman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Glanny -- Danny Glover. This one is about some quirky, neurotic child geniuses who all come back home. And -- if you are familiar with Wes Anderson's work, he's a very indy-type film maker. So, this one is really like a brainy film.
HARRIS: So, you couldn't characterize this as either a comedy or a drama, then?
REEVES: It is comedy, it is comedy, but in a quirky indy sense, like it's not really a big Hollywood film, even though it has Hollywood actors in it. It's definitely worth checking out.
HARRIS: All right, finally, how about, let's see, "Oceans Eleven". What's the drama on that one?
REEVES: Okay, this one has a lot of big names as well. This is Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Brad Pitt again, Don Cheadle. This is remake of the 1960's film "Ocean Eleven." Less campier than the "rat pack" version, and it's directed by Steven Soderbergh who brought us "Erin Brockovich," and "Traffic" from last year. So this one is definitely going to be a big one. Definitely because of the stars, again it is less campy. It's basically -- basically about a Las Vegas heist. So, if you like heist films, and you like any of these stars, you will be thoroughly, thoroughly entertained.
HARRIS: Well, we were entertained by you this morning, Ronke Reeves. Thank you very much.
REEVES: Thank you. Thank you.
HARRIS: We sure did appreciate it. Have a happy holiday. We'll talk to you some other time, okay?
REEVES: You too, you too. Thank you.
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