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CNN Live Sunday

Who Will Win at the Oscars?

Aired March 24, 2002 - 18:02   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Now on to Hollywood and the 74th Annual Academy Awards ceremony. The lights are set. The cameras are ready, and as for the action, we're going to check in with Leon Harris right now who's got one of the best views in town. Hi, Leon you look great.

LEON HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Carol. Hey, I've got to tell you, this is getting kind of exciting. You know me. I'm not really much of a, you know, movie buff and all that, but I got to tell you I think I may have just been changed overnight here.

Folks, you're looking at right behind me 500 of the most, I guess, most exotic and perhaps the most beautiful people walking you'll ever see here, and it's all coming together here in front of the Kodak Theater here on Hollywood Boulevard here in Hollywood.

So many people are coming out this year to see this 74th Annual Academy Award show because Oscar's coming home. This is the first time the show has been held here in Hollywood since 1960, and no one is really losing sight of just how much that means, especially this year after September 11th and all, and that has been on people's minds here.

But as you can see, the crowd here is really humming and there's a ton of people here. I couldn't even begin to imagine how many. The sidewalks are packed on either side as well, and as you can see there the carpet is now starting to fill up with some of the folks who are coming in.

I can't tell who's who yet, although we do know, Carol, I'll tell you this much, maybe two of the most important people in Hollywood right now just came through here a few moments ago. They were the accountants who were carrying the results, the only guys in town right now who know who won every single award. We're going to have to wait a couple hours to find out who it is, but they know and they just walked inside.

Now, as I said before, the crowd here is starting to build and you would not believe what time they began. I came out here just about five o'clock in the morning here local time, and do you know they were already here.

There were people who were already in place in those stands, and let me tell you something, some of these people are some -- well I don't want to say strange, but I'll say very dedicated movie fans and they had quite a tale to tell when I sat down and talked with them earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Yes, we rented an SUV and drove from Miami, big bag. We're at 5,500 miles right now. WE came in yesterday, just for the Academy Awards.

HARRIS (voice over): What happened, did you lose a bet or something, or what?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, not this is actually fun. Yes, we're two crazies, Thelma, Louise, so fun. Security was a big issue and no (UNINTELLIGIBLE), not yet.

HARRIS: You guys, you got to have faith. So who are you guys picking? Who are you guys rooting for tonight?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Russell Crowe.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Russell Crowe will probably win for Best Actor.

HARRIS: Isn't that funny how that always works out. All the guys say Halle Berry (CROSSTALK), you know.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was amazing in "A Beautiful Mind."

HARRIS: How long did it take you to drive here?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We left March 4th.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Twenty days ago. We left 20 days ago. We've gone to so many cities. Road trip.

HARRIS: You know what that is, it's like a dyslexic spring training trip, you know. That's what it's like. You guys -

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's spring break for adults.

HARRIS: Yes, but you went the wrong way, you went north.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know, but we had to get out of Florida somehow.

HARRIS: Oh my God. What do your friends say about you guys back home?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some of them think we're nuts but some of them are very jealous, envious. We're at the Academy Awards. Hi.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's what I'm saying you know this is great because they saw my pictures from last year. At first they thought you're nuts, but when they saw my pictures, I came back with pictures of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and they go oh yes. You know, they liked those and I made some 8 x 10s and then Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks. So the photos they got. I wish I could be there too. (END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Yes, Gus also told us that he gave (UNINTELLIGIBLE) a thumbs up on that dress that she wore last year too, so that's one other reason why he came back. And I got to tell you, that that you saw there, that was only the tip of the iceberg.

There's at least a good 600, 700 people who were sitting here at these stands. And take a look at the ones who were even behind the bleachers. Can you see this shot here? This is the scene of a collection of folks who are behind the security camera.

You know if I had to guess, there are probably 250 yards away from the entrance here. They have no chance in you know where of seeing a single person and still, you can't tell them to go away. As you can hear the noise out here, they're all getting worked up and we'll be here to see how things fold out, unfold rather, as they all come in. As we said, the show gets underway in just about two and a half hours from now. But for now, let's go back to you, Carol, in the studio.

LIN: Hey, Leon, have you seen any of the big names arrive yet or are they waiting until the last minute?

HARRIS: No, not yet. You know something, that's a big question, Carol, because some of the biggest things that we really want to see, for instance Sidney Poitier. He's coming in. He's going to be receiving an honorary Oscar here that basically is in honor of his entire body of work. Well, he has really never given interviews, and he has never really been one to stop and talk to the press along the way here.

But everyone is thinking that this year might be special, and so we're all waiting to see if he would stop and talk. So, we don't even know when he's going to arrive. So it's like that. Actually, I'm hearing now, who's that here? (UNINTELLIGIBLE) from "Titanic" is here. As a matter of fact, I can't see right now because I don't have eyes in the back of my head, but let me turn around. Yes, there you go.

So we are starting to get some people who are showing up now, and since this is the first time around for me, Carol, I have no idea what time folks really do begin showing up. So when they do, I'll get back to you and let you know. All right?

LIN: All right, sounds good. Of course, we've got to mention the special coming up at 7:00 Eastern. I understand you're going to be doing fashions?

HARRIS: Yes, I am the network's new fashion maiden. I am going to be a fashion expert by the time this evening is over with. But you know something, Carol, I have to say, you know me. Coming in, I didn't really have that much of an appreciation of that sort of story angle, but you know what? It's almost as if you watch Olympic curling long enough, the people who love it, eventually you'll get it too. Well I've been here as long as I have, the last couple of days now and that's all anybody asks is, what are they going to wear, or who are they going to wear. You know what? I'm curious too, so we'll find out together.

LIN: All right, well maybe you'll flash your (UNINTELLIGIBLE) later. Just got to tease that a little bit.

HARRIS: Thank you. That's right. See you at 7:00.

LIN: Thanks, Leon, we'll look forward to it. Of course, Oscar could be worth millions of dollars to the winner. With so much at stake, Thelma Adams from US Weekly is here to talk about how far studios are willing to go to win. Hi, Thelma.

THELMA ADAMS, US WEEKLY: Hi Carol, how are you?

LIN: I know you're here for all the glamour. I'm just fine. I'm looking forward to seeing the Oscars, but you have said that -- let me read this quote here to you. "It is the dirtiest, down to the Oscar, the wire Oscars in years." Why do you say that? How nasty does it get out there?

ADAMS: There's no question that it's the dirtiest in years. The idea that "A Beautiful Mind" when I sat down at the nominations six weeks ago and said it was the front runner. It was going to be "A Beautiful Mind" sweep and here we are six weeks later and it may or may not win because there's been so much in the press about whether the bio pick about John Nash, whether John Nash was gay, whether he was anti-Semitic. Russell Crowe then came out and, you know, punched some guy. It's just been a real whirlwind of the past six weeks.

LIN: Yes. Who do you think is going to win for Best Movie, Best Film?

ADAMS: For Best Movie, I still, you know I'm still holding out for "A Beautiful Mind" but this is going to be a night of surprises. There's no question.

LIN: And what about the most surprising snub. Who do you think is going to be ignored.

ADAMS: Well already the most surprising snub happened, which is "Moulin Rouge" got eight nominations and then Baz Luhrmann the director, didn't get one.

LIN: Yes, that's pretty bizarre. This was really his baby, wasn't it, "Moulin Rouge?"

ADAMS: It was entirely, 100 percent his baby. It wouldn't have existed without him, and for him to be snubbed is really amazing. But, you know, on we go to the next, to who's going to win tonight. Is Ron Howard going to be snubbed as the director of "A Beautiful mind?" Are they going to give him the award and leave out Robert Altman, who has done an incredible body of work and never won an Oscar for a single movie? LIN: And what about Russell Crowe. He won for "Gladiator." What are the chances that he's going to win again for "A Beautiful Mind" when you've got so many other fantastic performances.

ADAMS: I know, Denzel Washington.

LIN: There's history at stake here. Exactly.

ADAMS: Will Smith, the African American sector, but I've got to say I was concerned that Russell Crowe was not going to win a couple of weeks ago, but the Screen Actors Guild Awards came out and they gave him the award and you saw those two women who drove for 20 days from Miami. What are they excited about? Russell Crowe. The guy's a phenomena.

LIN: Nutty, and Halle Berry.

ADAMS: And Halle Berry.

LIN: Who's the one who has really more actually been known for her beauty than for her acting ability, and yet a phenomenal performance in "Monsters Ball."

ADAMS: Yes. She really hasn't been noticed for her acting job and she's terrific in "Monsters Ball" but let's not overlook Sissy Spacek for "In the Bedroom" a terrific performance by a woman over 50. Women over 50 very rarely win the Oscars.

LIN: Oh, yes that is going to be a tough choice. Do you think they're going to go for the more sentimental favorite then, Sissy Spacek, who's really paid her dues?

ADAMS: She's really paid her dues. She's really terrific. She was terrific in the movie, but then again Halle Berry, you know my gut is it's going to Sissy Spacek. I think Halle Berry has many more years to win Oscars and I'm thrilled with her performance and I'm thrilled to see her do so well after, you know, many hardships that she suffered.

LIN: A lot of tough choices. Thank you so much, Thelma Adams. Of course, we'll be seeing the results in just a few hours.

ADAMS: Very excited.

LIN: And I hope you stay tuned and everybody please stay tuned for our special coverage which starts at 7:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN with Leon Harris and Daryn Kagan out there on the red carpet.

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