Michael Douglas is taking a sharp turn from his usual roles to tackle the lead in a film biography of the campy musical performer Liberace, and Matt Damon is playing his longtime lover, director Steven Soderbergh confirmed.
"We've already done some costume and wardrobe tests on Michael, and they're very, very, very good." Soderbergh told a French newspaper at the Deauville Film Festival. "I swear to you, Michael amazed me. He crushed it."
Born Wladziu Valentino, the flamboyant, piano-playing Liberace, nicknamed "Mr. Showmanship" and "Glitter Man," was a staple of early 1950s television, and was an institution in Las Vegas until his death from AIDS in 1987. At his height, he made more money than Elvis and The Beatles.
Damon, Soderbergh said, has agreed to portray Scott Thorsen, the assistant/boyfriend whose 1982 palimony suit for $110 million publically outed the entertainer.
"Matt accepted the challenge," Soderbergh said. "But I have to say I'd already convinced him to gain 30 pounds for The Informant."
Liberace will be filmed off a script by writer/director Richard Lagravense, who was responsible for The Bridges of Madison County. Soderbergh said the budget will allow filmmakers to re-stage segments of Liberace's spectacular stage act, which often involved elaborate stunts such as flying or driving to his piano bench in a Rolls-Royce.
Not really. (http://forum.dvdtalk.com/movie-talk/539491-soderbergh-helm-liberace-biopic-michael-douglas.html)
JumpCutz
11-01-09, 06:20 PM
Oopsie. Doesn't look like this project generated any interest in these parts. :lol:
dan30oly
11-01-09, 07:30 PM
And why would it?
It sounds like an absolutely horrid idea and something few people would have interest in seeing.
Ash Ketchum
11-01-09, 07:32 PM
What, Scorsese and Di Caprio couldn't get there first?
Or, better yet, Mira Nair and Hilary Swank. Hey, she's got the teeth for it!
Suprmallet
11-01-09, 07:41 PM
Is this going to be before or after the Cleopatra 3D musical?
JumpCutz
11-01-09, 09:12 PM
And why would it?
It sounds like an absolutely horrid idea and something few people would have interest in seeing.
I don't know, I think it could be interesting. Liberace had a pretty unique life.:shrug: Add to the fact Steven Soderbergh would be directing.
It sounds more compelling than Moneyball. :lol:
NoirFan
11-02-09, 08:37 AM
It sounds like an absolutely horrid idea and something few people would have interest in seeing.
Yes, you're quire right, as always. Steven Soderbergh is a critically maligned hack, and Matt Damon and Michael Douglas are obscure, unpopular actors. The handful of oddball, possibly deranged viewers who would have even remote interest in such a collaboration will probably just wait for the Blue-rae anyway. I'm pleased to see that Ash Ketchum is nothing if not consistent as well. I suppose he's just biding his time waiting for the next Pokemon masterpiece, featuring the voice of Megan Fox as Haruka!
dan30oly
11-02-09, 09:33 AM
Yes, you're quire right, as always. Steven Soderbergh is a critically maligned hack, and Matt Damon and Michael Douglas are obscure, unpopular actors. The handful of oddball, possibly deranged viewers who would have even remote interest in such a collaboration will probably just wait for the Blue-rae anyway. I'm pleased to see that Ash Ketchum is nothing if not consistent as well. I suppose he's just biding his time waiting for the next Pokemon masterpiece, featuring the voice of Megan Fox as Haruka!
I sense sarcasm here, but after watching the stinking turd that was called The Informant! I do believe that Soderbergh is a hack. The only two good movies he's directed have been Oceans 11, and Out of Sight.
Michael Douglas hasn't been relevant or in anything worth seeing since 1993.
If Matt Damon keeps making crap like The Informant! and now Liberace I believe he's determined to tank his own career.
AnonomusBob15
11-02-09, 11:21 AM
hey now, Douglas had a good year in 2000. Starring in TWO good movies, Wonder Boys, and Traffic.
He was also in The Game (1997), but it's goodness is a little more debatable.
Ash Ketchum
11-02-09, 11:28 AM
Yes, you're quire right, as always. Steven Soderbergh is a critically maligned hack, and Matt Damon and Michael Douglas are obscure, unpopular actors. The handful of oddball, possibly deranged viewers who would have even remote interest in such a collaboration will probably just wait for the Blue-rae anyway. I'm pleased to see that Ash Ketchum is nothing if not consistent as well. I suppose he's just biding his time waiting for the next Pokemon masterpiece, featuring the voice of Megan Fox as Haruka!
All right! Now y'er talkin'. Better yet, make it live-action with her in the role, plus Ellen Page as Misty and Jason Statham as Ash. And directed by the guys who did the Crank films. Let's greenlight this, like, yesterday!
P.S. And Hannah Montana as Pikachu!
JumpCutz
11-02-09, 11:33 AM
I do believe that Soderbergh is a hack. The only two good movies he's directed have been Oceans 11, and Out of Sight.
:lol:
Sex, Lies and Videotape
The Limey
Erin Brockovich
Traffic
All the aforementioned films are considered good films.
All have a rating of 84% or better on Rotten Tomatoes.
All of them directed by Steven Soderbergh. :shrug:
inri222
11-02-09, 12:11 PM
Che
The Good German
Bubble
Kafka
Ash Ketchum
11-03-09, 10:32 AM
I have yet to see a good movie directed by Soderbergh. OUT OF SIGHT could have been good, but was derailed by J-Lo's casting. TRAFFIC was unbearably heavy-handed and a torture to sit through. ERIN BROCKOVICH was an adequate star vehicle for Julia Roberts--if all you're going to the movies for is star vehicles for Julia Roberts, which I'm not. The others I've seen I don't feel strongly enough about either way to comment on.
Oh, and who cares what a Rotten Tomato thinks?
Groucho
11-03-09, 10:47 AM
I have yet to see a good movie directed by Soderbergh.I choose you, Whitacre-san!
JumpCutz
11-03-09, 12:15 PM
Oh, and who cares what a Rotten Tomato thinks?
A lot more people than care what you think? :shrug:
Giles
11-03-09, 12:28 PM
Is this going to be before or after the Cleopatra 3D musical?
that actually sounds 'worse' than a Liberace bio-pic.
NoirFan
11-03-09, 05:46 PM
that actually sounds 'worse' than a Liberace bio-pic.
No way, the music is going to be by Guided by Voices!
Giles
11-04-09, 10:57 AM
^ oooooooh - now there's a definate plus.... you'd think a Cleopatra musical might have a Polyphonic Spree sound to it though.
Buy: