Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Sunday

Interview With Chris Farley of 'TIME'

Aired March 24, 2002 - 17:24   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.
KATE SNOW, CNN ANCHOR: Some of the races in tonight's Academy Awards show are too close to call. Of course, there are some front runners and public favorites, but it's always hard to know how to gauge how 6,000 Academy members will actually cast their votes. Chris Farley, a senior editor at "TIME" magazine may have more insight than we do. He is joining us from New York now to tell us who he thinks will take home the Oscar gold.

Chris, let's start with best picture, the biggest that we've got, and look at some of who is up for that right now. We have the list. "A Beautiful Mind," "Gosford Park," "In the Bedroom," "The Lord of the Rings" and "Moulin Rouge." What is your pick out of those?

CHRIS FARLEY, "TIME" MAGAZINE: I think the smart money really is on "A Beautiful Mind." I think it was an Oscar kind of film, a guy overcomes a serious illness. A big star in this, Russell Crowe. But I am really hoping that "Lord of the Rings" wins that category. I think it was a visionary film. I think there's also a lot of passion behind "Moulin Rouge," but I really think the smart money is probably on "A Beautiful Mind."

SNOW: And you would rather see it go to "The Lord of the Rings"?

FARLEY: I'd rather see it go to "The Lord of the Rings." I think it was a bigger film, it was a better film, it was a film that took a lot of chances. I mean, early last year we saw "Harry Potter" come out, and that played things very close to the vest, played things -- almost exactly like the book. But in "The Lord of the Rings," Peter Jackson, the director, really decided to bring his vision to that book, and not just sort of follow what was in the text.

But it didn't really betray the book either. So I think when a director does that, you know, I think he deserves an award, because it's really a terrific movie, and it made a lot of money too.

SNOW: Best actor. A lot of talk about Russell Crowe. Let's take a look at the others on the list for best actor. Also Sean Penn on that list, Will Smith, Russell Crowe, Denzel Washington, Tom Wilkinson also on the list there for "In the Bedroom." Any sense of who -- is Russell Crowe the favorite clear on?

FARLEY: Well, I think the favorites are two. I think it's Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington for "Training Day." I think the Academy likes to pay back people who have lost in the past who maybe should not have. Of course, Denzel Washington lost out to Al Pacino for "Scent of a Woman" a while back when Denzel Washington was in "Malcolm X," and of course Al Pacino was getting a little bit of a payback, because he probably could have won for "The Godfather," he probably should have won for "Dog Day Afternoon," and he finally won after going 0 for 7.

So I think this time around, the Academy might want to pay Denzel back for years of service, and also because he's a great actor and he's great in this role. I mean, the movie has some flaws in it, but he is pretty terrific. And I think although the smart money again is saying Russell Crowe, I'd like to see Denzel Washington win that award, because I think he is a great actor, he deserves this for his career, and he also deserves it for that specific role.

SNOW: I was surprised to read for best actress that if Halle Berry gets it tonight, I think she will be the first African-American woman to win best actress. She tops the list there. Judi Dench also, Nicole Kidman, Sissy Spacek and Renee Zellweger for "Bridget Jones Diary." You think Halle Berry has a shot at that?

FARLEY: Yeah. I mean, Oscar has never given a black woman the best actress award. They have been best supporting actresses in the past, Whoopi Goldberg, Hattie McDaniel, but if Halle Berry wins it, it will be historic. If she wins it. She has had some tough competition. Early on, people were talking about Sissy Spacek for "In the Bedroom," a terrific small film. She really delivers a strong performance. But people are also talking about Nicole Kidman, Nicole Kidman for "Moulin Rouge," and there is a lot of passion behind that film because there is a whole contingent in Hollywood that would like to see the musical come back. And so, I think that's why Nicole Kidman also has to be considered there.

But I think Halle Barry might pull it out. I think she deserves it for "Monster's Ball." I think "Monster's Ball" is a very emotional movie. Again, the movie is sort of flawed, but Halle Berry has a very strong performance in it. She risked a lot. There's a very explicit sex scene in it, a lot of risk emotionally, she took a risk financially too because she hardly got paid for that movie. It's a very small movie. So I think there's a lot of heat behind Halle Berry.

SNOW: Great insight from you. Thanks, Chris Farley, senior editor of "TIME" magazine. Thanks for being with us. We'll be watching later tonight, see how right you were.

FARLEY: Thank you.

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