King makes no apologies for the way studios use his name to sell tickets. "Do you really think people think Larry King is a movie critic?" he asks. "Come on! I'm the guy on CNN who liked the movie. I mean, after Roger Ebert, how many film critics could I even name? Joe Morgenstern. The guy with you. [The New York Post's] Lou Lumenick. [The New York Times'] A.O. Scott. I mean, how many people in Dubuque, Iowa, know any of those guys?"
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King of the blurbs
CNN's Larry King is always good for a quote, even though the ardent movie fan and occasional actor would be the first to tell you he's no critic.
THE BIG PICTURE / PATRICK GOLDSTEIN
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday February 15, 2007 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 0 inches; 26 words Type of Material: Correction
'Screamers': The Big Picture column in Tuesday's Calendar section described the film "Screamers" as being about Turkish genocide. It is about the Armenian genocide in Turkey.
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You can't even put King in a roomful of critics without all hell breaking loose. When I called Morgenstern Friday to let him respond to King's gibes -- he said he was "honored to be deplored by Larry King" -- he told me King had caused a scene that very morning, taking cellphone calls in the middle of a screening of the upcoming film "Breach." After a barrage of complaints, King went outside, only to have his phone go off again after he returned. "There was almost a brawl," reported Morgenstern.
When I asked about the incident, King was apologetic. "But it was urgent. They were important calls, things I had to respond to. I didn't talk on the phone for more than a minute or two."
And what did King think of the movie? "It was super," he said. "Had me on the edge of my seat!" From Larry King's mouth to your ears -- does anyone need to hear more?
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The Big Picture runs each Tuesday in Calendar. If you have questions or criticism, e-mail them to patrick.goldstein @latimes.com.
