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Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com
Matt Damon at Ante Up for Africa at The Rio on July 2, 2010.
Published Sunday, July 4, 2010 | 1:39 p.m.
Updated Sunday, July 4, 2010 | 2:18 p.m.
Audio Clip
- Liberace Museum: State of the Union
-
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When you need a powerhouse actor to portray the longtime gay lover of a legendary pianist and jewel-dripping costume model, who would you summon?
How about Matt Damon?
Damon has taken on a role with tantalizing potential, that of Liberace's former chauffer and romantic companion Scott Thorson in the upcoming biographical film about the famed artist's life and career.
Saturday afternoon at the Rio, Damon spoke in some detail about this film during a red-carpet shuffle prior to the celebrity "Ante Up for Africa" charity poker tournament to aid relief efforts in Darfur.
"Yeah, it's going to happen. We're going to do it next summer," Damon said as he slowed apace on his way to the poker table. "Stephen Soderberg is directing it. Michael Douglas is going to play Lee."
Lee? Damon is already embracing the manner in which those close to Liberace referred to the great entertainer. People who knew him always addressed him, "Lee." That includes Thorson, who blew apart Liberace's image as a merely flamboyant showman by suing the entertainer for $113 million in a 1982 palimony suit (four years later he shrewdly accepted $95,000, two cars and a pair of dogs as a settlement).
The characterization of Thorson should be one of the more ambitious roles in Damon's career. And the man who has portrayed Will Hunting, Jason Bourne and Linus Caldwell is jacking up expectations even a year before filming commences.
"It's a terrific script," Damon continued. "Richard LaGravenese has written a really great script and, you know, hopefully it will be a really great movie. I don't see why it wouldn't be."
Well, you could put Criss Angel in it. That'd be one reason.
Jerry Weintraub reportedly is producing the film, which is being shot to accommodate the family requirements of Douglas and Damon (he and his wife, Luciana, are expecting their third child in late November or early December). Damon said much of the film would be shot in L.A., particularly Liberace's stage show, though I would expect Liberace's old showrooms at the LV Hilton and Riviera would be at least considered for location shoots.
Out of pure necessity, some of the filming would need to take place in Las Vegas.
"We'd be here, I assume, because there's a whole portion of the movie that takes place (in Las Vegas). Stuff at his house would probably be shot here."
The Warner Bros. project would be a great and long-overdue boost to the Liberace Museum and Foundation, which for years has been struggling to re-introduce Liberace's singularly compelling life story to younger generations. The mind-blowing attraction is looking for a new home, moving from its East Tropicana location, where it has stood stoically and statically since 1979.
A move to a more populous location closer to the Strip is in the offing, and a film adaptation starring Douglas and Damon should allow officials to start anew efforts to market the Liberace brand.
Damon says he's not seen the museum, ever.
"I want to," he said. "I want to check it out."
Somehow I feel that can be arranged.
Brad Garrett at Ante Up for Africa at The Rio on July 2, 2010.
Garrett bristles at 'Badd Garrett'
In the undertow of the towering wave caused by Brad Garrett's club opening at Tropicana — and I don't know if I've ever seen a comic create quite this type of stir while setting up shop in Las Vegas — is an issue of a Twitter account managed by one "Badd Garrett."
I learned of this account several weeks ago, when I first wrote of Garrett's interest in moving into the Trop. I was corrected by "Badd" when an unedited version of my column hit the website with "Brad Gilbert" as Garrett's name. Yes, that is wrong, as Brad Gilbert is better known as Andre Agassi's former tennis coach and a tennis commentator on Wimbledon broadcasts.
Gilbert is at times funny, but he's no Brad Garrett. So I fixed that, but it wasn't the last we've heard from this "Badd Garrett" person.
I initially thought the individual managing the Badd Garrett account was Garrett himself. Not so, as I was corrected. I was told this was a "parody," account, and it seemed harmless enough, similar to how Wayniacs or Fanilows would create accounts to update fans with news about their favorite entertainers.
But Garrett is not amused — he's mentioned this to me, and also summoned my colleague Ubiquitous Robin Leach — and is taking legal action against the person using that handle.
Garrett has said the person operating the account is "sick," accusing the individual of stalking him all the way to the opening set of shows at his Brad Garrett Comedy Club.
Garrett has said the person has contacted media members and ticket brokers pretending to be the real Brad Garrett, and on Thursday the comedian initiated legal action (retaining an attorney in Beverly Hills and contacting a private investigator, for starters) to try to find the identity of this person. This could all end up in a defamation lawsuit, against the person and even against Twitter.
Garrett says he's unnerved by a person he considers a stalker, and this is among the many reasons he "hates" the Internet and doesn't manage any Twitter or Facebook accounts.
For a man who has opened his own club on the Strip to great response, it's a sad and unfunny turn of events.
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats.
Great casting. Very interested to see what Michael Douglas does with Liberace and hope he'll make him human as opposed to the cartoon many view him as.
Liberace was hardly a "cartoon" He was sincerely admired by millions. His flamboyant way was part show part reality,nevertheless...a showman.You don't think people didn't know what he was all about? of course they did.But remember the time in which this all happened.In "those" days people like him were shunned by EVERYONE.But he was a showman above everything.A character? of course...but you never knew exactly what to expect..but everyone couldn't wait to find out.
But Michael Douglas and Matt Damon?...How did they arrive at that como ?
Ok, Damon I get... But I can't imagine Micheal Douglas pulling off Liberace. As much as I love Douglas... Pulling this off would take better acting lessons.
He needs to get to the Museum and see what the man was really like and maybe he will reconsider.
Brad Garrett is becoming the male version of the over hyped Holly Madison.
Brad Garrett is definitely talented. If you want to see a trainwreck of a TV show-watch Holly's world on The E channel. In order to appreciate this show-you need an IQ approaching 37.
Matt Damon looking forward to playing Liberace's lover in upcoming biopic...i bet he is
I hope there is no "love scenes."
Look, folks,
'Jerry Weintraub reportedly is producing the film.'
That means: very good quality, great films, great entertainment. No need to hussle about "love scenes" or "Michael Douglas" right now.
I am really looking forward to watch a new movie produced by Mr. Jerry Weintraub. I hope he is also in the movie, even if it were just in one scene, just the Alfred Hitchcock way. And I hope there will be many many scenes located in Vegas in that movie additionally to the scenes in L.A. as well. Way to go, Mr. Weintraub.
Regards
Banana_Joe
There are plenty of gay actors, why don't they get actual gays to play the part? This is tantamount to the controversy of white actors playing Native Americans.
"playing Liberace's lover?
Do you like apples?
Well, I got HIS number!
How do ya like them apples?!!
LOL
: {
I always knew he was kinda, well.....
WILL
Do you find it hard to hide the fact
that you're gay?
PSYCHOLOGIST
What?
WILL
C'mon, I read your book. I talked to
you. It's just something I know to
be true.
PSYCHOLOGIST
That's very presumptuous.
WILL
Buddy, two seconds ago you were ready
to give me a jump.
PSYCHOLOGIST
(a little laugh)
Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you,
but I'm married and I have two
children.
WILL
I'm sure you do. You probably got a
real nice house, nice car -- your
book's a best seller.
PSYCHOLOGIST
You're getting defensive, Will.
WILL
Look, man. I don't care if you're
putting from the rough. There are
solid arguments that some of the
greatest people in history were gay;
Alexander the Great, Caesar,
Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, Napoleon,
Gertrude Stein, not to mention Danny
Terrio, not many straight men can
dance like that.
PSYCHOLOGIST
Who is "Danny Terrio?"
WILL
If you wanna hit "Ramrod," take your
shot. Take some pride in it. You go
to church? So puckin' what, God loves
you. I mean, Christ. A guy as well
known as you? By the time you put
your disguise on and skulk out of
the house Sunday nights you probably
look like "Inspector Clouseau."
The Psychologist calmly packs his things.
PSYCHOLOGIST
Well, I can see this is pointless...
: {
okay harley... lets go ahead and get back on those meds.
I don't understand all the hoopla. Gays play straight roles; straights play gay roles. It's called acting. That said, I'm not sure Michael Douglas can be a convincing Liberace.
Who knows, such wholesome family entertainment may become a Matt Damon forte?
How can anyone not be extremely excited about a Las Vegas gay theme?
Although Goober and Gomer Pyle may be having "technical difficulties" in convincing Sheriff Taylor, Barney, Aunt Bee and Opie -- doesn't mean such "biopic" entertainment isn't "right up your alley".
"Can't go broke catering to the common degenerate" Pauly always use to say.
: {
How to go from Gordon to Glitter Man !
Michael Douglas IS Liberace !
Hugh Jackman as the young (prequel?) Liberace ?
Robin Williams as Lee's manager, Seymour Heller?
Kathy Bates as Liberace's 's mom, Frances ?
Kirk Douglas as Liberace's father, Salvatore ?
Gary Sinise as Liberace's brother, George ?
Sally Field as George's wife, Dora ?
Kurt Russell as Elvis Presley ?
George Clooney as Jack Benny ?
Matt Damon IS Scott(beam me up Scotty) Thorson !!!