THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 23, 1995 TAG: 9511220064
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
WOODY HARRELSON wore a funny-looking little hat. Wesley Snipes' bald pate gleamed like a full moon. Together, they make a '90s odd couple.
Together also is the only way they do interviews. Talk to both, or don't talk to either.
``It's best working, particularly in comedy, if you're up against someone who gives you as good as you get,'' Harrelson was saying.
``I let him have the close-ups,'' Snipes quipped. ``I didn't need them.''
``Hey, I'll take the close-ups,'' Harrelson shot back. ``I like the camera up close.''
The box office doesn't lie. Three years ago, Snipes and Harrelson proved beyond a doubt that ``White Men Can't Jump.'' Now, they're out to make a bigger score in ``The Money Train,'' the big action entry on the holiday movie schedule.
As ``foster brothers,'' they're as different from one another on screen as they insist they're not in real life.
Harrelson plays reckless, childlike Charlie. He believes in sharing the wealth and, even though he's a cop, wants to rob the subway. Harrelson describes the character as ``part-gambler, part-dreamer and part-rogue.''
Snipes, on the other hand, is the more responsible John. He jumps in front of trains, is luckier with women and, generally, is always there to bail Charlie out.
``I pulled him through the movie,'' Snipes said, pointing his thumb toward his seemingly dumbfounded co-star.
``Hey, did you see him in `To Wong Foo?' '' Harrelson asked. ``I was struck by how good he looked. I mean, that first scene, when he's pulling those stockings on and those high heels. Of course, I've seen him do that so often that it's nothing new.''
Rumors persist, though, that the two clashed on the film, that they really don't get along and that ``Money Train'' will be their last film together. One theory is the only reason they won't do separate interviews is they want to be sure what the other one says.
Director Joe Reuben said it's all nonsense.
``They like each other. We'd never have gotten this movie made if they didn't,'' he said. ``Sure, they're competitive, but that helps the movie. Wesley says things like, `I'm No. 1, and you're No. 2' to Woody. They relate to each other a lot like 18-year-old boys. That's part of what makes the team work.''
Adding to the competition, the movie has them falling in love with the same woman, played by Jennifer Lopez. ``Sexual competition is the best,'' Snipes said. ``Of course, he loses.''
``Hey, buy a ticket,'' Harrelson said. ``Don't believe what this guy tells ya.' ''
Now, about the foster brother angle: Charlie is an orphan who is adopted by John's family. They grow up together, but fight a lot. As cops, they take on varied disguises to root out the criminals in New York's subways.
The big action sequence is a train crash.
``We were in the planning stage long before `Die Hard 3,' '' Harrelson said. ``We knew that had a subway crash, but we went for it, too.''
While some scenes were filmed in New York, most were shot on a sound stage. ``We never could have done this movie if we hadn't been in a studio,'' director Reuben said. ``We couldn't have done it on location. We'd have torn up New York.''
The film was budgeted at $55 million, ``pretty big money, but not so big by today's standards,'' Reuben added.
The two stars come from different backgrounds. Snipes was born in Orlando, Fla., but moved to the south Bronx as an infant. He attended the High School for the Performing Arts, which got him into show business. When not working, he lives in Brooklyn.
Snipes is now filming ``The Fan'' opposite Robert De Niro. ``I wanted to play the part De Niro plays, but he wouldn't let me,'' he said, laughing.
Harrelson, a native of Texas, grew up in Lebanon, Ohio. He majored in theater arts at Hanover College in Indiana and writes plays in his free time. He just completed ``The Sunchaser,'' directed by Michaeel Cimino, and is now filming ``Kingpin'' with Randy Quaid.
``He's doing comedy. I'm a DRAMATIC actor,'' Harrelson said, running his finger over an eyebrow to suggest grand drama.
Then, he got serious for a moment. ``I never knew many African Americans before I met Wesley. He's taught me a lot. He's OK.''
``Yeah, man,'' Snipes added. ``We get along. I even let him have the close-ups.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Photo
COLUMBIA
Wesley Snipes falls for Jennifer Lopez in ``Money Train.''
by CNB