Columnist Kate Maddox: ‘Ocean’s 11’ script adds bite

Kate Maddox

Friday, Dec. 22, 2000 | 9:36 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column appears Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at kmaddox@lasvegassun.com.

Here's a scripted fight scene that might (with any luck for us gossip types) turn into the real deal. Seems "Ocean's 11," the Vegas-heist movie shooting here in February, features a boxing match between notorious heavyweight Mike Tyson and current world champion Lennox Lewis.

Tyson and Lewis have apparently signed on for a bout in front of the cameras, all for the sake of Hollywood, of course. This might be a precursor to the real thing, however -- the two have talked about climbing into the ring together, but have yet to face off.

The phony "Ocean's 11" fight will reportedly take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in front of approximately 10,000 extras.

In other new "Ocean's" news, it seems cast and crew will be settling into Vegas for a seven-week shoot.

George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, et al, will most likely nest at the Bellagio, where the majority of the filming is scheduled to take place.

Those without name recognition will be shuttled to off-Strip digs.

MGM MIRAGE Vice President of Public Affairs Alan Feldman confirmed that the movie will be shot primarily at the Bellagio, but also said the script calls for scenes to be filmed at the Mansion at the MGM Grand and the interior of the MGM casino as well.

"It will be a fairly complex (shooting) situation," Feldman said. "But people will still have access to the properties and it shouldn't be too much of an interruption."

It's been a stressful time for "Ocean's 11" director Steven Soderbergh. Just this week two of his movies were nominated for best film honors by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (aka the Golden Globes): "Erin Brockovich" and "Traffic."

He's also speeding through pre-production of "Ocean's" in the hopes to release the final product by Christmas 2001.

Bill Murray, Alan Arkin, Don Cheadle and Ralph Fiennes round out the cast.

Whoever's sources proved more accurate (i.e. mine) on the whole David Cassidy-Tony Tillman debacle, the main thing to remember is that it is indeed the holiday season, my friends, and can't we all just get along? (I know, disappointing to all of you who were hoping for an all-out catfight between me and my colleague at the morning paper.)

Point is, if and when the whole "The Rat Pack is Back" mess gets ironed out, Tillman will get to do something that he has always loved to do and that he's always been good at: Entertain.

So forget the lies, the name-calling, the insults and the age issue. (Add years?? Buddy, you really don't know women.)

Instead, I say when the show returns from hiatus Tuesday, why don't those of you who want to decide for yourselves whether Tillman's really got the pipes, go check him out.

Rest easy, locals. Hairstylist William Whatley has decided not to join the ranks at the Salon at Canyon Ranch inside the Venetian.

In light of my previous attempts to befriend this guy, I'm not touching the details of this one with a 10-foot curling iron. But I do know that he's decided not to commit to Canyon Ranch, and that for the time being he'll keep his William Whatley International Salon open for business after all.