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CNN Saturday Morning News

Interview With Thelma Adams

Aired October 05, 2002 - 08:43   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, "AUTO FOCUS")
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey, that stereo over there?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Does it play music?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tonight?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course. Do you want any jazz?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Name it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You got Procol Harum?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got Four Tops.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Close enough.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bob? You want to freshen the girls' drinks? Bob?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: You're looking at scenes from "Auto Focus." It's based on the story of "Hogan's Heroes'" star Bob Crane and it's one of the films showing at the New York Film Festival. The 40th annual festival continues this weekend, featuring the newest cinematic works from around the world.

Joining us from New York this morning to talk about some of the films causing a buzz there, Thelma Adams. She's a film critic with "U.S. Weekly." With "US Weekly" magazine.

THELMA ADAMS, "US WEEKLY": With "US Weekly." I don't know why it's -- yes, "US Weekly."

CALLAWAY: I don't know. You know, it's news. I see U.S., I see U.S. instead of US.

ADAMS: Right. I know.

CALLAWAY: But I read "US." I know. "US" is a great magazine. ADAMS: You know "US."

CALLAWAY: I know "US," yes.

This movie "Auto Focus," we should be clear about this, it is based on the life of Bob Crane. Is it loosely based? How...

ADAMS: No, it is pretty, I mean this is the deal with Bob Crane. He was the star of "Hogan's Heroes." He had other shows that he was on. But basically he got involved in, he was like one of the first home pornographers. He was what we would call now a sex addict, largely heterosexual. And it's true that ultimately he was found murdered by a tripod. It's not, there's no knowledge...

CALLAWAY: Well, the tripod didn't murder him. Somebody murdered him with the tripod.

ADAMS: Well, that's the thing, we don't know who that somebody was, although the movie seems to indicate that it was his partner in vice, played by Willem Dafoe. But it was the guy he catted around with. So it's not a hundred percent true, but a lot, a lot of it is. It's from Paul Schraeder, who did "Taxi Driver," who did "Affliction." It's, you know, a male anxiety movie, you know, a downward spiral.

But what we have also is an icon. I don't know about you, but I was a huge "Hogan's Heroes" fan. Bob Crane seemed like, you know, the hero, the squeaky guy, the funny guy, kind of, you know, an alternative to the Alan Alda "M*A*S*H*" character.

CALLAWAY: He did have another side, didn't he?

ADAMS: And then he had this very dark side. And what's interesting in the movie is it makes it seem like he's totally oblivious to the fact that this might hurt his family, hurt his career.

CALLAWAY: Well, now, Greg Kinnear plays Bob Crane. I never would have placed him in that. How is he in the movie? I haven't seen it, obviously.

ADAMS: Right. That's why they, why he's cast. This is one of the movies at the New York Film Festival that has Oscar buzz and part of that is around Greg Kinnear, who is unbelievably good as Bob Crane. You really, after the beginning -- and you're used to him being kind of this blond kind of, you know, low key guy and he totally melts into Bob Crane. You really believe it's him. And it's an incredible performance.

CALLAWAY: Yes, Greg Kinnear, I haven't seen too many things that he hasn't been good at, though.

ADAMS: Right.

CALLAWAY: All right, let's take a look at...

ADAMS: "As Good As It Gets," he was very good in. CALLAWAY: He was wonderful in that.

ADAMS: Yes.

CALLAWAY: Let's look at "About Schmidt." Do we have a little bit of that? Let's play some of that, a clip from...

ADAMS: Let's see. "About Schmidt," again...

CALLAWAY: Yes, let's listen. Hang on a second.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "ABOUT SCHMIDT")

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why did you get such a cheap casket?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I could tell you got the cheapest casket. Everybody could.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, that is not true. That is not true. I specifically did not choose, as you say, the cheapest casket. There was one less expensive which they showed me and I refused it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You mean a pine box?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I don't remember what it was.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CALLAWAY: All right, Jack Nicholson, Kathy Bates, this is a...

ADAMS: Hope Davis is in this. And you've never seen Hope Davis look so pale.

CALLAWAY: No.

ADAMS: So unattractive. She's usually such an attractive blond.

CALLAWAY: What is this movie? Is it a black comedy? What is it, a tragedy?

ADAMS: It's a black comedy with a real sentimental soul. It's from Alexander Payne, who did "Election."

CALLAWAY: Right.

ADAMS: And Schmidt is played by Jack Nicholson, again, another Oscar contender this year. And it's about a middle aged man who loses kind of everything that defines him. He retires, his wife dies, his only daughter is getting married. And he goes on this search for self-discovery. And if this...

CALLAWAY: How is this movie playing with the audiences at the festival there? ADAMS: I think it's, I have, I'm mixed on it. But in general, the response is very, very positive and a hundred percent positive for Jack Nicholson. What's interesting here, if you just saw, he's paired with a woman who's basically his own age as his wife. When was the last time we saw Jack Nicholson with someone his own age?

CALLAWAY: You know...

ADAMS: And I think it's interesting.

CALLAWAY: And this may be one of these movies either you get it or you don't, you know, black comedy. It's got to be...

ADAMS: Well, either you get it or you don't. I mean, it can be very sentimental. There's Dermot Mulroney. I think in some ways it's very condescending. But Kathy Bates, who we see here, is just wonderful and she has a nude hot tub scene.

CALLAWAY: Does she?

ADAMS: So there are some moments that are very, very original.

CALLAWAY: Go Kathy.

ADAMS: And I really -- go Kathy. And let me just say, she couldn't join the cast of "Friends," all right?

CALLAWAY: All right. Now, we're going to play a little clip from a movie that's getting a lot of press out there, "Red Dragon."

ADAMS: Right.

CALLAWAY: Let's look at a little bit of that movie.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "RED DRAGON")

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you recall well, our last collaboration ended rather messily.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CALLAWAY: You know, all he has to do is look at the camera and it gives me the chills when he's playing that role. Is this one as scary as the original, Hannibal Lecter?

ADAMS: Yes, I think it's as scary. I'm curious because when I talk to women they're always like this is too scary for me. I don't like scary. In fact, I like scary. The scarier the better. And this is a very scary movie. Many people know already that it is a -- it's based on the same book that a movie "Manhunter" was based on.

CALLAWAY: Now, see, I'm a big fan of that movie "Manhunter."

ADAMS: I love that movie.

CALLAWAY: I think that was a great movie. Michael Mann. ADAMS: Michael Mann movie. He did "The Insider," Michael Mann. The one thing that's interesting...

CALLAWAY: And we're looking at some from "Manhunter" now.

ADAMS: Right, from the original.

CALLAWAY: Right.

ADAMS: Brian Cox played Hannibal Lecter. So one of the things about remaking the movie was that it allowed it to become a Hannibal Lecter trilogy with Anthony Hopkins playing all the roles. Somewhat of a little known fact, it's the same cinematographer who did "Manhunter" does "Red Dragon." And...

CALLAWAY: But the serial killer in this is Ralph Fiennes? How is he in that role?

ADAMS: Terrific. He is a great actor. He bulked up. He has tattoos. And I think here's an actor who didn't want to be "The English Patient" forever, who really, you know, despite his pretty kind of fragile features wants to do different things. And it is a very scary movie. Obviously no Clarice Starling, either Jodie Foster or Julianne Moore. And it's done more as a thriller. I think "Manhunter," because it was Michael Mann, was very much about the moral issues and the relationships of men to men, which are themes that Michael Mann brings up again and again and again. And this is really from Brett Ratner a very, you know, full out thriller. And it certainly is the most highly anticipated movie of the weekend.

CALLAWAY: Is it winning over fans at the film festival there in New York?

ADAMS: Well, this one is opening in theaters coast to coast.

CALLAWAY: Right.

ADAMS: The other movies that we talked about, "Auto Focus" and "About Schmidt" are just at the film festival now, but they're opening up between now and Christmas around the country.

CALLAWAY: We'll be looking for them.

Thank you for being with us this morning.

ADAMS: My pleasure.

CALLAWAY: Thelma Adams with "US Weekly."

ADAMS: Don't get too scared.

CALLAWAY: No, we won't.

Thanks, Thelma.

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 October 5, 2002 - 08:43   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "AUTO FOCUS")
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey, that stereo over there?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Does it play music?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tonight?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course. Do you want any jazz?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Name it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You got Procol Harum?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got Four Tops.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Close enough.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bob? You want to freshen the girls' drinks? Bob?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: You're looking at scenes from "Auto Focus." It's based on the story of "Hogan's Heroes'" star Bob Crane and it's one of the films showing at the New York Film Festival. The 40th annual festival continues this weekend, featuring the newest cinematic works from around the world.

Joining us from New York this morning to talk about some of the films causing a buzz there, Thelma Adams. She's a film critic with "U.S. Weekly." With "US Weekly" magazine.

THELMA ADAMS, "US WEEKLY": With "US Weekly." I don't know why it's -- yes, "US Weekly."

CALLAWAY: I don't know. You know, it's news. I see U.S., I see U.S. instead of US.

ADAMS: Right. I know.

CALLAWAY: But I read "US." I know. "US" is a great magazine. ADAMS: You know "US."

CALLAWAY: I know "US," yes.

This movie "Auto Focus," we should be clear about this, it is based on the life of Bob Crane. Is it loosely based? How...

ADAMS: No, it is pretty, I mean this is the deal with Bob Crane. He was the star of "Hogan's Heroes." He had other shows that he was on. But basically he got involved in, he was like one of the first home pornographers. He was what we would call now a sex addict, largely heterosexual. And it's true that ultimately he was found murdered by a tripod. It's not, there's no knowledge...

CALLAWAY: Well, the tripod didn't murder him. Somebody murdered him with the tripod.

ADAMS: Well, that's the thing, we don't know who that somebody was, although the movie seems to indicate that it was his partner in vice, played by Willem Dafoe. But it was the guy he catted around with. So it's not a hundred percent true, but a lot, a lot of it is. It's from Paul Schraeder, who did "Taxi Driver," who did "Affliction." It's, you know, a male anxiety movie, you know, a downward spiral.

But what we have also is an icon. I don't know about you, but I was a huge "Hogan's Heroes" fan. Bob Crane seemed like, you know, the hero, the squeaky guy, the funny guy, kind of, you know, an alternative to the Alan Alda "M*A*S*H*" character.

CALLAWAY: He did have another side, didn't he?

ADAMS: And then he had this very dark side. And what's interesting in the movie is it makes it seem like he's totally oblivious to the fact that this might hurt his family, hurt his career.

CALLAWAY: Well, now, Greg Kinnear plays Bob Crane. I never would have placed him in that. How is he in the movie? I haven't seen it, obviously.

ADAMS: Right. That's why they, why he's cast. This is one of the movies at the New York Film Festival that has Oscar buzz and part of that is around Greg Kinnear, who is unbelievably good as Bob Crane. You really, after the beginning -- and you're used to him being kind of this blond kind of, you know, low key guy and he totally melts into Bob Crane. You really believe it's him. And it's an incredible performance.

CALLAWAY: Yes, Greg Kinnear, I haven't seen too many things that he hasn't been good at, though.

ADAMS: Right.

CALLAWAY: All right, let's take a look at...

ADAMS: "As Good As It Gets," he was very good in. CALLAWAY: He was wonderful in that.

ADAMS: Yes.

CALLAWAY: Let's look at "About Schmidt." Do we have a little bit of that? Let's play some of that, a clip from...

ADAMS: Let's see. "About Schmidt," again...

CALLAWAY: Yes, let's listen. Hang on a second.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "ABOUT SCHMIDT")

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why did you get such a cheap casket?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I could tell you got the cheapest casket. Everybody could.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, that is not true. That is not true. I specifically did not choose, as you say, the cheapest casket. There was one less expensive which they showed me and I refused it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You mean a pine box?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I don't remember what it was.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CALLAWAY: All right, Jack Nicholson, Kathy Bates, this is a...

ADAMS: Hope Davis is in this. And you've never seen Hope Davis look so pale.

CALLAWAY: No.

ADAMS: So unattractive. She's usually such an attractive blond.

CALLAWAY: What is this movie? Is it a black comedy? What is it, a tragedy?

ADAMS: It's a black comedy with a real sentimental soul. It's from Alexander Payne, who did "Election."

CALLAWAY: Right.

ADAMS: And Schmidt is played by Jack Nicholson, again, another Oscar contender this year. And it's about a middle aged man who loses kind of everything that defines him. He retires, his wife dies, his only daughter is getting married. And he goes on this search for self-discovery. And if this...

CALLAWAY: How is this movie playing with the audiences at the festival there? ADAMS: I think it's, I have, I'm mixed on it. But in general, the response is very, very positive and a hundred percent positive for Jack Nicholson. What's interesting here, if you just saw, he's paired with a woman who's basically his own age as his wife. When was the last time we saw Jack Nicholson with someone his own age?

CALLAWAY: You know...

ADAMS: And I think it's interesting.

CALLAWAY: And this may be one of these movies either you get it or you don't, you know, black comedy. It's got to be...

ADAMS: Well, either you get it or you don't. I mean, it can be very sentimental. There's Dermot Mulroney. I think in some ways it's very condescending. But Kathy Bates, who we see here, is just wonderful and she has a nude hot tub scene.

CALLAWAY: Does she?

ADAMS: So there are some moments that are very, very original.

CALLAWAY: Go Kathy.

ADAMS: And I really -- go Kathy. And let me just say, she couldn't join the cast of "Friends," all right?

CALLAWAY: All right. Now, we're going to play a little clip from a movie that's getting a lot of press out there, "Red Dragon."

ADAMS: Right.

CALLAWAY: Let's look at a little bit of that movie.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "RED DRAGON")

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you recall well, our last collaboration ended rather messily.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CALLAWAY: You know, all he has to do is look at the camera and it gives me the chills when he's playing that role. Is this one as scary as the original, Hannibal Lecter?

ADAMS: Yes, I think it's as scary. I'm curious because when I talk to women they're always like this is too scary for me. I don't like scary. In fact, I like scary. The scarier the better. And this is a very scary movie. Many people know already that it is a -- it's based on the same book that a movie "Manhunter" was based on.

CALLAWAY: Now, see, I'm a big fan of that movie "Manhunter."

ADAMS: I love that movie.

CALLAWAY: I think that was a great movie. Michael Mann. ADAMS: Michael Mann movie. He did "The Insider," Michael Mann. The one thing that's interesting...

CALLAWAY: And we're looking at some from "Manhunter" now.

ADAMS: Right, from the original.

CALLAWAY: Right.

ADAMS: Brian Cox played Hannibal Lecter. So one of the things about remaking the movie was that it allowed it to become a Hannibal Lecter trilogy with Anthony Hopkins playing all the roles. Somewhat of a little known fact, it's the same cinematographer who did "Manhunter" does "Red Dragon." And...

CALLAWAY: But the serial killer in this is Ralph Fiennes? How is he in that role?

ADAMS: Terrific. He is a great actor. He bulked up. He has tattoos. And I think here's an actor who didn't want to be "The English Patient" forever, who really, you know, despite his pretty kind of fragile features wants to do different things. And it is a very scary movie. Obviously no Clarice Starling, either Jodie Foster or Julianne Moore. And it's done more as a thriller. I think "Manhunter," because it was Michael Mann, was very much about the moral issues and the relationships of men to men, which are themes that Michael Mann brings up again and again and again. And this is really from Brett Ratner a very, you know, full out thriller. And it certainly is the most highly anticipated movie of the weekend.

CALLAWAY: Is it winning over fans at the film festival there in New York?

ADAMS: Well, this one is opening in theaters coast to coast.

CALLAWAY: Right.

ADAMS: The other movies that we talked about, "Auto Focus" and "About Schmidt" are just at the film festival now, but they're opening up between now and Christmas around the country.

CALLAWAY: We'll be looking for them.

Thank you for being with us this morning.

ADAMS: My pleasure.

CALLAWAY: Thelma Adams with "US Weekly."

ADAMS: Don't get too scared.

CALLAWAY: No, we won't.

Thanks, Thelma.

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