Liz & Dick: Review

Hello, all! Well, we made it. We got through Lindsay Lohan in Lifetime's Liz & Dick. The first thing I should say is that even though I love Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton and I'm an enormous fan of their movies, the way their love story was portrayed in this movie was shallow, vapid and cliche. They were written ridiculously and even though I am sure they both had their moments, I think both of them cared more about acting, movies and theater than the Liz and Dick portrayed in the movie. Also, Elizabeth Taylor was a humanitarian, raising millions for various charities. She wasn't just all booze, partying and temperament. 

Anyway, onto the performances. I'll start with Grant Bowler. You may know Mr. Bowler from HBO'S True Blood playing the role of Cooter. Mr. Bowler actually did an okay job of playing Richard Burton, but lacked any of the gravitas that Mr. Burton possessed. Richard Burton was not so young and not a typical heartthrob when he captured the heart of Liz Taylor, so he clearly had a lot of other things going on with him, Mr. Bowler was fine in the part, but didn't have the chutzpah.

Now let's get to La Lohan. What's so shocking about her performance is that she literally made no attempt to act or sound like Elizabeth Taylor and it's not that she has no mannerisms to imitate, because she definitely does...Lindsay just didn't seem to be able to muster anything up. Also, it's hard to believe they cast her in the first place. First of all, Liz Taylor was a striking woman...also, she had a metallic, recognizable voice. Lindsay's smoker's cough just didn't cut it. On top of a terrible performance, she was poorly made up and was given cheap looking wigs. The costumes were the one thing I liked. I will say though...Lindsay had a few weirdly moving moments in the movie...I'm sort of embarrassed to admit that. It made me think that maybe she was just gigantically miscast and maybe there's a future for her...but this movie is just shockingly bad. It wasn't even as campy as I was hoping .::sigh::. Oh well. 

I WAS happy to see some familiar faces in the supporting cast though: David Eigenberg as Ernest Lehman, and Charles Shaughnessy as Anthony Asquith. 

Lindsay Lohan has found her Dick!

Hello, my gorgeous ones! The waiting is finally over and Lindsay Lohan (and producers) have found the man who will play Dick opposite her Liz. He isn't exactly the A-Lister she might have been hoping for, but he HAS played a werewolf on True Blood and was on Ugly Better. It's Grant Bowler, and compared to the other guys that were mentioned, he is a FAR superior choice. He has a great, mature vibe and might actually act well? Cool! Well, at least production can start AS PLANNED for June 4th. Here's what the executive producer had to say about it...

“The chemistry erupted in the room… Grant will add gravitas to our couple and bring to life one of the greatest actors who has ever lived. Burton was a Welsh poet, a rascal, and a man’s man, who swept Elizabeth Taylor off her feet and flew her so close to the sun that they both exploded into stardust that still lights up Hollywood.”


Well...yeah...cool...good luck. 

Lindsay trying on costumes for Liz Taylor movie

Hello, gorgeous fans. TMZ posted some pics of Lindsay Lohan trying on costumes for her upcoming Lifetime biopic, Liz and Dick. I am just DYING to see how this is going to happen. I can't think of anyone more wrong for this part, but that's what's going to make the final product SO delicious. Also...Lindsay really can't fill a costume these days...part of Liz Taylor's appeal was that she had sexy, amazing CURVES! She was BUSTING out of this tight, gorgeous, A-line dresses. Hopefully a makeup and hair CREW will make this all a little more believable...but unfortunately, Lindsay has the right in her contract to "approve" all the costumes she wears...big mistake. Sometimes, you have to let other people make you look good. 

Lindsay Lohan Liz biopic moving forward...

Hello, gorgeous ones. Okay, this news has me excited for all the wrong reasons. Everyone is saying they think it's going to be a horrible, horrible mess, but can't anyone enjoy a campy, messy good time ever?!? I think Lifetime is genius for casting her, people will DEFINITELY tune in to see what Lohan does with the iconic Liz Taylor. The movie is titled Liz and Dick. Since the famous pair fell in love on the set of Cleopatra and made some fabulous movies together, we can at the very least expect some amazing costumes and makeup!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!!

Elizabeth Taylor's Makeup

Hello, my gorgeous fans. I am ALWAYS looking at my favorite celebrity's makeup: in their movies, in photo-shoots, in paparazzi photos, etc, but I think the woman who has one of the most iconic makeup looks of all time is Elizabeth Taylor. I mean, her makeup in Cleopatra (the "historical" epic that brought her and her soon to be hubby, Richard Burton together) basically set the trend for makeup of the 60s. I know the Cleo look is the most popular, but my favorite OVER THE TOP Liz Taylor makeup is in a movie called Doctor Faustus. The movie is the story of Faust, starring Richard Burton as Doctor Faust and Elizabeth Taylor in a silent role as the various love interests of Richard Burton. Anyway, the movie was a flop, but Liz's makeup, hair and costumes were NOT! Her makeup was done by Frank La Rue, who Liz used for a a bunch of her films in the 60s. He also did Marilyn Monroe's makeup in The Misfits. I know it's over the top, but I love it...

Happy 104th Bette Davis!

Hello, my gorgeous fans! Today is a momentous occasion: The 104th Birthday of Bette Davis! I was thinking about this recently, and the people who run showbiz these days just don't have the imagination and genius that they once did. Look at the women of the past that we still talk about: Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Vivien Leigh, Judy Garland, etc. Most of the women I just listed did not possess typical beauty, but what they did possess was talent, presence, and just raw electricity. And not just the leading ladies were like this. Look at supporting players like Eve Arden, Angela Lansbury (in her early days she was always second fiddle), Thelma Ritter, etc. They are so memorable in all the films they're in. These days we have...who? Keira Knightly?

So, Bette Davis. I just want to wish her an enormous happy birthday, wherever she may be. She has inspired me more than she, or anyone will ever know. From legendary performances in movies like Jezebel, Now Voyager (which is just the best), Dark Victory, The Letter, All About Eve, etc, to her less well known, but fabulous, performances in All This and Heaven Too, Watch on the Rhine, and The Sisters, to her often parodied late career in movies like Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, The Nanny, Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte, and A Catered Affair, I LOVE IT ALL! My one regret is that Bette Davis, unlike actresses like Meryl Steep, or Diane Keaton, or even Katharine Hepburn, was not allowed to age gracefully in film. Back then they didn't know what to do with women of a certain age in film, when I believe that's when women can became their most complex and delicious. I always wish Bette had been allowed to age with grace in film, BUT, that doesn't take away from the fact that she was still fabulous in those later movies. She paved the way for so many great actresses. Happy Birthday Bette!!!