Sunday 12 June 2011

Liberace, Matt'n'Mike and male strippers


Michael Douglas as Liberace
How Michael Douglas might look as Liberace


Two bits of cinematic campness are coming up this year - from one man!

Steven Soderbergh - who has been described as "a stylistic chameleon" by reviewers for his willingness to tackle big-budget blockbusters such as Erin Brokovich, Traffic and the Ocean's Eleven remakes, as well as "art-house" movies like Sex, Lies and Videotape and Che - is currently filming a movie version of the stormy relationship between Liberace and his lover Scott Thorson, starring (remarkably!) Michael Douglas and Matt Damon!


This could be a fascinating movie, indeed. Mr Douglas (not renowned for his camp sensibilities, nor in fact his brilliant acting skills in my opinion) playing the "deadly, winking, sniggering, snuggling, chromium-plated, scent-impregnated, luminous, quivering, giggling, fruit-flavoured, mincing, ice-covered heap of mother love" that was Liberace? Mr Damon (an eternally cute yet somewhat dull actor) playing his gay lover? I can't wait!



Now, reports Variety, Mr Soderbergh will also direct the former model-turned-cinematic-eye-candy (I hesitate to use the word "actor") Channing Tatum in a movie about male strippers. [Yes, please!]



In Magic Mike, Mr Tatum will star as the title character, a veteran performer who takes a young dancer under his wing and guides him through the shadowy world of the stripper biz. It's apparently inspired by Tatum's real life experiences as a stripper when he was 19. I am getting to like Mr Soderbergh...

Read more about "Magic Mike" Stephen Soderberg on IMDB

6 comments:

  1. Actors having to act! Imagine that. What a refreshing change. Do you think Catherine Zet will be coaching Michael in how best to carry off a blingee outfit? HT

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  2. Ms Zeta-Jones does bear a passing resemblance to Liberace in a certain light... Jx

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  3. that photo of michael looks awful.

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  4. I think the prosthetics look terrible - but then you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear... Jx

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  5. The photo you posted at the top of this article is not in fact of Michael Douglas. It's of an accomplished (now retired) Liberace impersonator named Martin Preston. He traveled the world with his incredible show. Fabulous costumes (better than the ones in the film because he actually spent real money on them, something the film budget didn't allow) and an unmatched talent on the piano! www.liberaceshow.com

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    1. Thanks for the clarification! I did think when I first saw the photo - mis-labeled by someone else - that it looked nothing like Mr Douglas, but I assumed that was (as other commenters did) prosthetics. I have corrected the caption.

      It isn't a flattering photo of Mr Preston, either, I must admit. Jx

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