HBO's "The Wizard Of Lies" Discussion (2017)

[Hoke Moseley]

In 2008, stockbroker, investment advisor and financier Bernie Madoff made headlines around the world when he was arrested for perpetrating perhaps the largest financial fraud in U.S. history.

Debuting in May, HBO Films’ THE WIZARD OF LIES examines Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme – his deception, lies and cover-up, all as the financier’s wife and sons are catapulted into a harsh and unrelenting spotlight.

Robert De Niro (Oscar® winner for “Raging Bull” and “The Godfather II”) comes to HBO for the first time in the role of family patriarch Bernie Madoff. Also on HBO for the first time, Michelle Pfeiffer (Golden Globe winner for “The Fabulous Baker Boys”) stars as Ruth Madoff, Bernie’s longtime spouse and unwitting partner during the events that would lead to financial ruin for countless people and institutions, as well as his and his family’s destruction.

The film is directed by Barry Levinson from a script by Sam Levinson and John Burnham Schwartz and Samuel Baum.

https://youtu.be/dm2kOY0aYOY

Looks excellent.

[Hoke Moseley]

New trailer:

The Wizard of Lies: Official Trailer (HBO) - YouTube

[TheLaughingMann]

Jeez, De Niro and Pfeiffer together again. They were fun to watch in Stardust.

[Hoke Moseley]

Should have bumped this earlier today, whoops!

[imsounoriginal]

Shouldn't this be in the movies section even though it's made-for-TV?

Anyway, watching it now and it's quite good, aside from the cliched framing device. As someone who only followed the headlines without fully understanding the how's and why's of what happened, this is fairly educational. But I do hope the movie covers exactly HOW Madoff decided the jig was up and to turn himself in (until the sons jumped the gun), because so far that hasn't happened and I'm curious to see it.

[Hoke Moseley]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Shouldn't this be in the movies section even though it's made-for-TV?

Anyway, watching it now and it's quite good, aside from the cliched framing device. As someone who only followed the headlines without fully understanding the how's and why's of what happened, this is fairly educational. But I do hope the movie covers exactly HOW Madoff decided the jig was up and to turn himself in (until the sons jumped the gun), because so far that hasn't happened and I'm curious to see it.

Yeah, I'm not sure which section it really belongs in. I noticed there are threads for TV movies in both sections.

Maybe get off blu-ray.com and pay attention to the movie and you'll enjoy it more!

[djgeneral]

I'll leave it here, that's fine.

Anyway, this is on the DVR. Will get to it at some point.

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by Hoke Moseley

Yeah, I'm not sure which section it really belongs in. I noticed there are threads for TV movies in both sections.

Maybe get off blu-ray.com and pay attention to the movie and you'll enjoy it more!

lol I had to get up to make some food anyway.

Finished it now, I liked it despite it basically being an afternoon special-ized version of events. By the end it answered all my questions about what happened. I don't really think there's much depth to anything but the performances are good, the direction itself is workmanlike, and the production as a whole is just fine. No more or less. I imagine it'll get a lot of Emmy/awards attention for the performances, especially De Niro, who's good but never really operating at his peak. Pfeiffer is kinda underused but makes the most of her screentime. 3 out of 4 stars for me.

[format916]

thought this was well done..and a few scenes reminded me of Casino...the party on the beach and the fundraiser in palm beach.

[tob]

I saw it today it was ok good performance by de niro but it was too long in my opinion.

[Hoke Moseley]

Originally Posted by format916

thought this was well done..and a few scenes reminded me of Casino...the party on the beach and the fundraiser in palm beach.

I think the party on the beach scene was excellent. Azaria was hilarious there, and towards the end of it Bernie's conversation on the couch with Mark was very powerful.