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As Expected, Soderbergh To Follow Up CHE With Liberace Biopic Starring Michael Douglas!!
Beaks here...
Now that Steven Soderbergh has sold his four-hour CHE to IFC Films (read all about the proposed release pattern at Anne Thompson's blog), the auteur is free at last to focus his considerable talents on the movie he was born to make: LIBERACE!
I won't pretend to be an expert on the flamboyant, ivory-tickling entertainer (my understanding of the man hasn't progressed much since my first viewing of "Hyde and Hare"), but he was unquestionably one of the most significant entertainers of the twentieth century. And he had a huge following throughout the '50s and '60s despite the fact that he... well... had a way about him.
According to Variety, Soderbergh's film will be written by Richard LaGravenese, and will focus on the entertainer's later years, during which he was sued for palimony by his alleged former lover, Scott Thorson (who testified in the Wonderland murders trial). The match of director to material is one thing, but it's the casting of Michael Douglas in the lead role that's bound to throw people; though he's a fine actor, I doubt anyone has ever thrown on WALL STREET and exclaimed, "This guy would fucking kill as Liberace". That said, I find myself warming to the idea the more I think about it. I certainly can't argue with Matt Damon coming on board to play Thorson (though he's only "in talks" at the moment).
(l) Liberace, (r) Douglas
By the way, the Liberace biopic won't be the immediate follow-up to CHE. Soderbergh has already completed THE INFORMANT, and is preparing to shoot THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE.
(l) Liberace, (r) Douglas
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Just had to throw that out there.
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CHE=MEDIAN
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COOL BEANS LOL
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Sep 10, 2008 11:48:54 PM CDT
Andrew Robinson Was Awesome As Liberace In That TV Flick!
by drunken busboy
The guy had him nailed! (No pun intended!) Anyone remember this flick and the other Liberace TV flick. There were two conflicting Liberace movies and critics thought that was bad until the 3 Amy Fisher movies shortly there after!
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Who wear those fucking CHE shirts. Little college fucks who've never had family members slaughtered by that merderous bastard. FUCK THEM, FUCK CHE!
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I ain't got nothing else.
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Those people might be Rage Against the Machine fan though. Nothin wrong with that.
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you need to take heed and quit being such a groupie
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They should have saved that title for the Liberace picture. I kid.
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like a crack head needs a hit
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The more I can see Michael Douglas as Liberace. But he'll probably just act, like he always does, like Michael Douglas. I'd rather Andrew Robinson anyday - Garek was born to play Liberace!
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Love the funny casting.
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Sep 11, 2008 1:08:01 AM CDT
Does anyone remember that movie One Night at mcCools???
by straighttohell
Terrible movie, but Douglas had this wacky-looking bouffant that makes him nearly a dead-ringer for Liberace. Just look at him here:
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm601135360/tt0203755
And tell me he doesn't look like the older Liberace. Plus, the man is a brilliant actor and I think he would kill in the role. -
No offense to his fans, but hes not got the look. Then again, he's a fine actor, and I'm sure he can drop his fat gut and sharpen that nose. Usually I'm not a fan of biopics, especially musical ones, but Liberace is fucking cinematic gold. Theres enough material there to make a great film. But then again, there was enough material to make an amazin Howard Hawks movie, and they fucked that up.
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after "BOY FROM OZ", Hugh would be awesome as another flamboyant closeted gay man in music! time to pop those adamantium diamond-studded "cow pokers" boys! ;0p
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...Had Liv Tyler washing a car. Thats all I remember.
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bareback candelabra.
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Just wondering. :)
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Do you mean Howard Hughes? I don't know any Howard Hawks Biopic.
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It sucks that bad.
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liberace? really?
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Good job Mr. Beaks. As for the movie, I look forward to anything by Soderbergh, and I'm sure this will be very popular considering all the jewelry that rappers wear now.
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Sep 11, 2008 1:45:01 AM CDT
Amy Chasing are you talking about the Russian version or Soderbe
by straighttohell
Because the Russian version is the one that has been the toughest for a lot of people to get into. I can see how this would be the case, since Tarkovsky was always about mood and reflection rather than moving the story along. However, I think that Solaris was and is a brilliant film. Just like Stalker, Tarkovsky's use of long takes, pauses, and seemingly inconsequential details all create an atmosphere of genuine dread and unease. And in Solaris he also mixes in a great deal of real warmth for the characters. More so than in Stalker. His films may not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you just relax and let them work their magic, they are deeply captivating.
And Soderberg's take on Solaris was quite good as well. He went closer to the novel, and took it into a more romantic direction, but it still worked quite well. It's probably Clooney's best role yet. I also love the space flight sequences. I only wish Soderberg did use Pink Floyd music like he wanted to at first. That would have been magical. -
cutting off the whole Subject comment!!!
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I preferred Clooney in O' Brother Where Art Thou too, but then I was awake for that. :D
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just puts a smile on my face for no reason that I can quantify. In the same way that penguines and ducks make me smile. But I do agree with those above. Andy Robinson was utterly amazing as the guy. But this could turn out to be greatest WTF casting decision that turned out to be inspired since Ledger.
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on most of his movies he's the same gut on the screen, but for example on wonder boys he's different and good
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It's like he's begging Hollywood: "Please! Please! Never use me again!"
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Hahaha... THAT'LL be good for a laugh! :DAt least Hollywood decided to chose someone other than "The Two Kevins" — Spacey or Kline — to play a famous gay guy this time. But I DO agree that choosing Hugh Jackman would've been perfect! The man's got the pipes...Plus, he's half-gay anyway.
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Reputations and the one they did on Liberace was the very best. Great stuff. He kept being gay hidden for years because at that time it would have ended his career. What was so great about the documentary was that it took the form of a road trip. The journey started in the town where he was born, took in his early childhood years and continued all the way through to the his vegas days and all that gaudy candelabera stuff, right through to his last days.
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The New Mummy. in the fifth and final installment of this awful franchise. the mummy ends up as tourist attraction in los angeles. in a bizaare twist, he decides to marry a star whos career is over the.....wait a minute, happened already, didnt it? d'oh!
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in the next batman film.
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It is all talk at the moment. The rumours are that the list of villains are the Riddler, Philip Seymour Hoffman as the penguin and jolie as catwoman. Make catwoman badass. Joile does dark very well. I was really angry about the way they treated Maggie Gyllenhall. We Dont see Rachel Dawes Demise on screen, so could she comeback all verngeful at bruce. Remember she decided to Marry Harvey instead of bruce. Other choices for this role could include Biel or amy adams. This is all caveat stuff. Charles Roven and Nolan have yet to sit down and talk about batman three. But nolan told caine about depp and hoffman. so who knows?
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Sep 11, 2008 8:06:28 AM CDT
"I got two guys here, Liberace and Michael Jackson!"
by nasty in the pasty
"Suddenly the panties are hanging from the candleabra and she's screaming 'Lee, Lee, oh God, youre good...!'."
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Cher as The City of Las Vegas
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Played a gay camp guy and was very funny. I can see him doing Libarache. Why do most of us all doubt certain casting decisions? They are all actors. The whole point of being a good actor is to be able to take on any kind of role. Look at Heath Ledger, he defied all you fuckers who doubted his ability. Michael Douglas is a good choice, maybe not the best but he is not a typecasted actor (ok, for a while he was in danger of becoming typecast as a fucked in the ass victim but I think he shook that off).
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The Charles Nelson Reilly Story starring Alec Baldwin.
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Sep 11, 2008 9:07:06 AM CDT
Was listening to Soderbergh and Cameron's Solaris commentary thi
by knuckleduster
Man, what a great filmmaker. Check out his commentary on The Limey.
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I hope there's no jail scene with Douglas crossing his legs with no boxers on.
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...i like some of soderbergh's stuff, but was liberace interesting enough to have a film about his life?
was he really one of the most influential entertainers of the 20th century? (i honestly don't know, not challenging the article)
it seems like there is a gay bandwagon being hopped on lately.
or, maybe everytime a "gay" movie is made it just gets tons of press. if i have to hear james franco answer "wat was it like kissing sean penn?" one more time, i'm going to...just...go bite my pillow. -
because its pro-male-mink stole?
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Andre Rublev= best movie ever.Nice to see some culture being bandied about.
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The goggles do nothing!
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he'd just have to act, well, very GAY
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WHY ALL THE LOVE FOR THE LATIN BLOODTHIRSTY MURDEROUS REVOLUTIONARY BUTCHERS? THERES PLENTY OF BLOODTHIRSTY MURDEROUS REVOLUTIONARY BUTCHERS TO CHOOSE FROM
caps added for extra win. -
This is good. This is good kids.
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Sep 11, 2008 12:40:59 PM CDT
I hope they have a flashback to when he was on BATMAN!
by bob cryptonight
Maybe that period of his career, in the 1960s, proved to be some crucial nexus for what happened in later years...
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Hes got the mannerisms, the voice, and has been in the trenches doing the research.
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Really? You're questioning whether Liberace's life is interesting enough to warrant a biopic?
Seriously, do a little research before asking such things. Liberace has enough material to warrant SEVERAL movies. -
Who is this movie for, the over-60 queen crowd?
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To Wong Foo.... Swayze and Snipes as queens actually worked was was funny. So Douglas could do this, but there is no way in hell I'll pay money to see this. Hell, I won't take money to see this.
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I know he was marketed as a "ladies man" during his motion picture days, and there was a big lawsuit toward the end of his career (having to do with his lover?), but if he isn't a blind black junkie, or smuggled Nazi secrets out with his bum, whats the story?
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He was capable of doing artistic films, thrillers, blockbuster...It seems like it has been downhill since Solaris. Now a four hour movie glorifying a mass murderer, and a movie about Liberace? Well it was a nice run while it lasted.
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Liberace once was among the most famous entertainers in the country. He was bigger than hugely popular performers like Bobby Darin (who got a movie). But his life was a massive lie. He was sold as a ladies man because women, especially middle-aged housefrau sorts, loved him to death. So he was a romantic figure in his only starring role, "Sincerely Yours." After a few years his TV career wound down, but he still killed on the concert circuit and did so many talk shows that he was almost a regular fixture in American living rooms. By the mid seventies he'd become a beloved camp figure even among young people like me.
So the story is about a closeted man who fooled no one but insisted on staying way in the back with the jacket you bought ten years ago, love, but can't bring yourself to wear. Supposedly he thought his career would be hurt. Mostly, I've read, he feared his mother would have a heart attack if she knew her little Lee was one of those guys. The Thorson thing was very big news at the time because of it being the first homosexual suit for palimony.
This will be a little movie. It won't cost much. It won't make much money. It probably should be done for cable. It probably should star Andrew Robinson. But it's one hell of a story. -
Tarkovksy FTW
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... damn, time passes by so fast
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. . .played by Gus Van Rant, esquire.
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Sep 11, 2008 11:19:11 PM CDT
Seriously - whats next - Biopic on Supertramp? Yo Yo Ma?
by jackrabbitslim
Liberace's film will be about as interesting as the inevitable 'Fanfare - The John Williams Story' And nice not-so-subtle 'California Love' reference there, Vern.
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