Walken interview Jan 17 2003

NBC News Transcripts

SHOW: Today (7:00 AM ET) - NBC

January 17, 2003 Friday

LENGTH: 1081 words

HEADLINE: Christopher Walken and Derek Luke discuss their roles in "Catch Me If You Can" and "Antwone Fisher" being left out by the Golden Globes

ANCHORS: KATIE COURIC

REPORTERS: JILL RAPPAPORT

BODY:

Announcer: Today's entertainment segment is brought to you by...

KATIE COURIC, co-host:

This Sunday night we'll see who will take home a coveted Golden Globe award, but there were two actors from much talked about movies, "Antwone Fisher" and "Catch Me If You Can," who got snubbed for nominations. Our entertainment reporter is here with the story.

Hi, Jill. Good morning. JILL RAPPAPORT reporting:

Hi, Katie. This was really very surprising. Two great performances overlooked from newcomer Derek Luke and Oscar-winner Christopher Walken.

(Excerpt from "Catch Me If You Can")

RAPPAPORT: With a Golden Globe nomination for Leonardo DiCaprio, "Catch Me If You Can" is also generating Oscar buzz for Leo, co-star Tom Hanks, and director Steven Spielberg, and also for the scene-stealing performance overlooked by the Golden Globes by Christopher Walken, as DiCaprio's father, Frank Abagnale Sr.

(Excerpt from "Catch Me If You Can")

RAPPAPORT: You really are a pivotal character in this movie.

Mr. CHRISTOPHER WALKEN: Well, he's the mentor of Frank Jr. I think that if Frank Sr. was able to be a world class con man, that he would have been. He just doesn't quite have the chops. But he's got some of the moves and he shows them to his son, who just takes it to a whole, you know, level of genius.

(Excerpt from "Catch Me If You Can")

RAPPAPORT: I understand Leonardo said that he's in awe of your talent and your abilities the chemistry that the two of you had...

Mr. WALKEN: Yes.

RAPPAPORT: ...which was--is evident on the screen.

Mr. WALKEN: Yeah. And also when we stand together, I think it's very believable that we could be related.

(Excerpt from "Catch Me If You Can")

RAPPAPORT: Now, part of the reason for the Oscar hype surrounding Walken's performance as the former con man with a heart of gold, is that it's a completely different type of role for the actor, known for his turns as villains in films like "Batman returns"...

(Excerpt from "Batman Returns")

RAPPAPORT: ..."Sleepy Hollow"...

(Excerpt from "Sleepy Hollow")

RAPPAPORT: ...and "True Romance."

(Excerpt from "True Romance")

RAPPAPORT: And for his choice of strangely over the top characters in movies like "Pulp Fiction" and "The Deer Hunter," for which he won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1978.

(Excerpt from "The Deer Hunter")

RAPPAPORT: I must say, you have had so many diverse roles, and you've really been able to do it your way in a business that tends to mold people and type-cast them.

Mr. WALKEN: Sure. And I--I come out of the musical theater, you know, all that time I spent as a dancer and doing jokes, things that I don't get a chance to do so much in the movies. It's sort of catching up, you know, I get to do a music video.

(Excerpt from a Fat Boy Slim music video)

RAPPAPORT: We never thought you had a lighter side, Christopher?

Mr. WALKEN: That's all I did until I was...

RAPPAPORT: Until you became an actor, and then all of a sudden all these intense dramatic roles. Nobody ever got to see you smile and lighten up.

Mr. WALKEN: That's right. One of the first things I did was the Woody Allen movie "Annie Hall," and I was suicidal in the movie.

(Excerpt from "Annie Hall")

Mr. WALKEN: I think that--that something might have gotten started with that.

RAPPAPORT: And then death becomes you.

Mr. WALKEN: Something like that.

RAPPAPORT: From veteran actor, to newcomer.

(Excerpt from "Antwone Fisher")

RAPPAPORT: Twenty-six-year-old Derek Luke gave a jaw-dropping performance critically held performance as the lead in the Denzel Washington-directed film "Antwone Fisher."

(Excerpt from "Antwone Fisher")

RAPPAPORT: Talk about a big break. Other than one-liners that you've had in your illustrious career, this is a major role, and your first role.

Mr. DEREK LUKE ("Antwone Fisher"): Yeah. Yes, it is. It's my breakthrough into the industry.

RAPPAPORT: Seven years after he arrived in Los Angeles to pursue his acting career, Luke was still just a struggling actor, working in a studio gift shop who had only bit parts in TV shows, when he won the dream role.

RAPPAPORT: I understand that your initial audition wasn't exactly up to snuff?

Mr. LUKE: Yeah, pretty much. Yeah, I was--wasn't snuffing too much on that one.

RAPPAPORT: Much to Luke's surprise, he did get a call-back, but the project was delayed due to scheduling problems with Denzel. It was this audition that landed him the role.

And fortunately for you, Denzel Washington wanted to take a chance on an unknown. He preferred an unknown in this role.

Mr. LUKE: I don't know what he preferred, but I--I like the pick he made. I love the pick. Thanks, D.

(Excerpt from "Antwone Fisher")

RAPPAPORT: Though the film was snubbed in all categories at the upcoming Golden Globe Awards, Luke's taking all his newfound fame in stride.

This movie has gotten so much attention, and not to receive any Golden Globe nominations, not for Denzel, for you, was pretty shocking.

Mr. LUKE: I was hurt, but what changed my life around was when a friend said to me, 'Derek, you're a newcomer.' They're asking you, 'How does it feel to be left out of the Golden Globes?' on your first performance?

RAPPAPORT: Mm-hmm.

Mr. LUKE: And then it hit me, and I said, 'Wow.'

RAPPAPORT: Luke says he owes much of his powerful performance to Washington's direction.

And I understand he actually encouraged mistakes.

RAPPAPORT: Yeah, he did. Oh, you're good. He did. He said, 'Listen, Derek, from the heart, you can't go wrong, and that's the mistakes I like.'

(Excerpt from "Antwone Fisher")

RAPPAPORT: And Luke's career is now kicked into high gear. You can catch him in the soon-to-be-released "Biker Boys," which is being touted as a Western on wheels.

Mr. LUKE: Hot action. You ride bikes?

RAPPAPORT: No way.

Mr. LUKE: Let me tell you something, for all the men that ride bikes, wherever the camera is, you are--you're going to want to see this film.

RAPPAPORT: OK. And "Biker Boys" hits theaters January 31st. Is he adorable?

COURIC: Adorable. And you could...

RAPPAPORT: And incredible in this movie.

COURIC: ...and you could have told him you're a biker chick. Come on, Jill.

RAPPAPORT: Yeah, right. Can't you tell?

COURIC: Especially with those boots. Right. Whew! Anyway, thanks, Jill. Good to see you.

RAPPAPORT: Whew!

COURIC: And we'll be back in a moment. This is TODAY on NBC.

LOAD-DATE: January 17, 2003