Liz & Dick

Plot synopsis:
Throughout Liz & Dick, Elizabeth and Richard appear in a dark room and reminisce about their life together. On August 5, 1984 in Celigny, Switzerland, an elderly Richard is writing what would be his last letter to Elizabeth and recalls the first time he saw her at a Hollywood party. He then finishes the letter and goes to rest.
In July 1961, Richard flies to Rome, Italy to begin filming as Mark Antony in Cleopatra, which stars Elizabeth. He tries to compliment her but it comes off as rude. Later he goes to a restaurant where Elizabeth is dining and attempts to make her like him; again he comes off as rude and she leaves abruptly. His wife Sybil (Tanya Franks) is suspicious of his intentions. Later, during filming of Cleopatra, Elizabeth has a change of heart and invites Richard into her trailer for a drink. However, she accuses him of trying to seduce her.
Eventually they succumb to their attractions and begin an on-set affair that soon makes national news. Later, during a private gathering, Richard publicly asks Elizabeth whether she loves him or her husband, Eddie Fisher (Andy Hirsch). She confesses that she loves him more and splits from Eddie. Richard showers Elizabeth with expensive jewels in Rome, but returns to Sybil after she attempts suicide; Richard and Elizabeth part ways after Sybil refuses to divorce him. Elizabeth is briefly hospitalized for overdosing on pills and Cleopatra's filming ends bitterly.
Three months later, Elizabeth is relaxing in Gstaad, Switzerland with her family, but feels bored. She meets up with Richard and they resume their affair. When she learns that Richard will be filming The V.I.P.s (1963) with Sophia Loren, she convinces the film's director Anthony Asquith (Charles Shaughnessy) to fire Loren and hire her, which he eventually does. The relationship is derailed again when Sybil and Eddie refuse to divorce them; then Sybil gives Richard a divorce. They are heavily criticized by the media; their union is labeled "erotic vagrancy" by The Vatican. Eddie divorces Elizabeth, who marries Richard in March 1964.
The couple sign on to film Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, in which their characters have long arguments, as they do. Richard is saddened after missing out on an Academy Award for the film The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965). Elizabeth begins gaining weight and becomes insecure. They are both Academy Award-nominated for their roles in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, but only Elizabeth wins, causing Richard to become hostile again.
To escape the media, the couple travel to Portofino, Rome and buy a yacht, where they reside—and constantly fight. He makes a remark about her "pudgy fingers" and promptly apologizes. She asks him to buy her a ring and he purchases a 69-carat diamond which becomes known as The Taylor-Burton Diamond. Richard's brother Ifor Jenkins (David Hunt) becomes crippled by an accident Richard blames himself for; after Richard and Elizabeth have returned home, Ifor passes away. Richard becomes depressed and starts cheating on Elizabeth and drinking. They decide to divorce.
Months later, Elizabeth experiences a colon cancer health scare and asks to see Richard. She turns out to be fine, Richard realizes he needs her in his life, and they remarry in Africa; unfortunately, they re-divorce mere months later.
Richard dies in his sleep in Celigny. Elizabeth's mother Sara (Theresa Russell) informs her of his death, and she faints. His wife bans her from attending his funeral; the next week she visits his grave in Celigny—yet another moment with him that is intruded on by the paparazzi.

Tags: romantic

Review:
Lohan does not sound like Taylor at all, does not bring anything that remotely captures the essence of the woman to this film pairing.
The Wrong Liz. One of Hollywood's most publicized and scandalous relationships is that of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
When I saw previews for the 2012 film Liz and Dick, I was excited about it; despite my feelings against Lindsay Lohan for the part of Taylor, I was going to be open-minded and see the movie anyway.
However, once I saw the Lifetime movie, Lindsay Lohan did nothing but solidify my initial feelings against her as Elizabeth Taylor.
Lohan was simply, and very clearly, the wrong casting choice to play the great Hollywood diva, Elizabeth Taylor.
Taylor is one of Hollywood's most prominent and influential actresses of all time, and the honor of playing her in a movie is one that should have been given with much more scrutiny and contemplation.
Grant Bowler did an exceptional job at becoming Burton, unfortunately, his efforts were lost whenever Lohan had the next line.As atrocious as Lindsay's performance as Taylor was, Lohan was not the only reason Liz and Dick failed to be a successful Hollywood biopic.
The screen writing and storyline were extremely lacking in substance and failed to represent the better aspects of Taylor and Burton's love story.
Lohan failed to give the great Hollywood starlit the justice she deserves, and it's a good thing Taylor isn't around to see the abomination.
A glimpse and dramatization of the great Liz and Dick love story could have been a romantic and successful movie.
Capturing Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's life and love on film is no easy feat, and it shouldn't have been handled the way it was; if they were going to do it, they should have done it right or at least without Lohan.Here are a few of my favorite Tweets about the film: @campsucks This is the weirdest episode of Mad Men.
As someone who (as a HUGE fan of Burton's life, career, and legacy) has researched the actor for 25 years, I have to say this movie is an utter DISGRACE to him as well as Taylor!
Everything that both Burton and Taylor had going for them and what made them captivating to the public back in the 60's, 70's,....and even today is completely overlooked (if not lost) in this awful movie.
Based on my research of Richard Burton I have a hard time believing what the movie claims, but it's a well made film nonetheless..
The guy who played Burton was quite good, I thought, but Lohan sank the whole ship with the both of them on it.Didn't really like the inter-cuts either, with "Liz" and "Dick" sitting in director's chairs chatting about their past to the camera, breaking the fourth wall.
Awkward and odd structure that didn't really work.As I said, I wasn't disappointed because I had no expectations of seeing a good biopic, but anybody looking for a convincing portrayal of Elizabeth Taylor definitely will be.
This movie Liz and Dick is one of the most boring and trying films I have ever attempted to watch.
Lindsay Lohan is terrible in this role and I don't even care to know who tried to play Richard Burton.
I hope to God in real life that LIFE was better for Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton because this movie shows something disgusting and tasteless..
I do think that Grant Bowler did a better job playing Richard Burton than Lindsay did playing Liz. But it would be difficult to play two of Hollywood's royalty, let alone royalty couples.
One cannot expect to see Liz Taylor and Richard Burton to play themselves.
Even somebody who isn't familiar with the porcelain skinned, exquisitely beautiful Elizabeth Taylor with her precise, breathy, slightly British way of talking, and her expressive eyes could watch her films and at least TRY to embody her smoldering sensuality and physicality.
Then Lohan speaks, and that's when I know: It was just cruel to cast Lindsay Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor and expect her to pull it off because she has this hoarse voice that sounds like it has spent too much time in smoke-filled bars, or screaming at people; a voice with a flat affect, rushing her lines as if she just wants to wrap the scene so she can go to the mall.
Grant Bowler did a great job of embodying the late Richard Burton, but his wig was terrible and distracted from his performance.
There are so many talented actors in Hollywood who could have made this film worth watching, and had somebody gone to the effort to cast a better actress to play Taylor, I feel like Grant Bowler's Burton would have been more believable.
It was like she was rushing through each scene so she could go somewhere more important rather than stick around and try to perform in this dumb movie.Taylor's body was very curvy--most of her adult life she struggled with overweight, yet, she always projected a raw sexuality that jumped off the screen.
Yet, Lohan appeared scrawny and flat chested in many scenes, as she moved clumsily around trying desperately to be sexy.Overall, Lohan's performance was almost laughable--sort of a cartoon version of the remarkable Liz Taylor.The guy who played Richard Burton was much better than Lohan.
This movie had all the potential to be something great, but in the end it was too unbelievable and scarce in good qualities to be redeemable.It can't be blamed on just one person's performance, but I would put a vast majority of the blame on Lindsay Lohan, the script and the production.
Grant Bowler showed a lot of potential and often it either seemed like he was either the only one actually acting in a scene (with Lohan) or he was trying to illicit some kind of emotional reaction in her performances that her responses to this was almost always met with a flat note.
it felt more like you were going through a change-of-set at a high school play than a cinematic transition like really any movie.Looking back, had they cast someone more reliable than Lindsay Lohan in terms of acting and personality, they would've stood a better chance of finding someone whose chemistry would've matched Grant Bowler's acting.
However, her acting felt 'rushed' as there was no real energy there and she was sleep walking through the scenes.On the plus side, my interest in Elizabeth Taylor grew so much after this film because I felt like it did her so little justice...
For anyone who wants to know more about Elizabeth Taylor, they would do better to read a biography and watch a few of her movies than to watch this film...
I am in shock that this movie ever aired.How can anyone think Lindsay Lohan could play Liz Taylor.
I grew up watching Elizabeth Taylor, and was hopeful that this movie might have been at least watchable.Honestly I found myself stalking the scene ends, and wondering how they had managed to allow this to happen.
As we begin, the aged Shakespearean actor Grant Bowler (as Richard "Dick" Burton) appears to be near his death bed, writing a letter to Hollywood temptress Lindsay Lohan (as Elizabeth "Liz" Taylor).
There simply isn't much story here.*** Liz & Dick (11/25/12) Lloyd Kramer ~ Lindsay Lohan, Grant Bowler, David Hunt, Theresa Russell.
Liz and Dick was like watching two people dressing up like Liz Taylor and Richard Burton for Halloween and pretending that they were the famous movie duo.
I've seen Benny Hill do better impressions....Sorry---This is absolutely the WORST vehicle for Lindsey Lohan to consider making a comeback---The only hope is that this movie ends up as a cult flick in some old abandoned movie house----so pass this one by--wait for better days, actors, writings and screen plays!.
Liz & Dick (2012) * 1/2 (out of 4) Made-for-TV film about the up and down relationship between Elizabeth Taylor (Lindsay Lohan) and Richard Burton (Grant Bowler).
If you don't know who Taylor and Burton were and just tune into this film then you're going to come away that they were both spoiled, drunk idiots who fought and had sex a lot.
LIZ & DICK is a pretty poor movie that has some very good stuff in it but there's just no getting around some incredibly big and fatal flaws.
Even embarrassing when it comes times for Lohan to re-enact some of the famous scenes from Taylor's movies.
Bowler, on the other hand, does a pretty good job capturing the voice of Burton and he handles the dramatic scenes much better.
The film remains watchable because of the train wreck of a performance by Lohan but thankfully neither Taylor or Burton lived to see this..
As others have pointed out, Grant Bowler does a good job mimicking Richard Burton's voice.
Lindsay Lohan has captured the look of Ms. Taylor in this film, but couldn't get close to the essence of Elizabeth (which is what she preferred to be called) in her countenance or in her voice.I think the producers should have dubbed Li-Lo's husky voice with one more like Elizabeth's or just recast the role with an unknown actress.
.The actor that played Richard Burton, Grant Bowler, had his Welsh accent down well enough, but was not rough enough in his physical features to be believed.
But I think the real problem was that Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton lived real lives that were "large" even among Hollywood celebrity standards.
Lindsay did not seem very vulnerable in her voice--she seemed more, "Whatever, lady." The acting was misguided because the director really should have worked harder to bring more of Liz out of Linds.What I could not get over was how bad the script was and even worse was the editing.
So, don't expect Oscar nominations.I think the film and performances could have been a lot better, but overall, it was enjoyable to watch but probably not noteworthy..
The character of Elizabeth Taylor in this film was so unlikeable and a bit all over the place.Lindsey Lohan was surprisingly not awful, just mediocre.
She doesn't look like Liz Taylor, but she's okay in some very emotional scenes.
I can't help to think that some of it is directed at Ms. Lohan's personal life, which is grossly unfair and has nothing to do with her performance.I was very excited about seeing this movie.
It has been a while since Lindsay Lohan graced us with her acting ability on the screen and I was glad to have seen it portrayed in this biopic story.
The romance between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton was very exposed and scrutinized in the public media and the way they dealt with it according to "Liz and Dick" movie was usually through fights usually with one of them ending in a drunken stupor.
There were some awkward moments and Lindsay sounded nothing like Taylor's solemn voice but she did a great job trying to portray the glam diva.
Although her personal life is in the swings, I've never really seen a bad 'Lohan' movie until I Know Who Killed Me. Since she has been off set for nearly 5 years, I can understand why she wasn't at her Cady Heron status from Mean Girls in 2004.
Maybe one has to be older and familiar with the Taylor/Burton saga to appreciate this movie, but I thought it was great.
Lots of interesting historical details, like how Burton never wins his Oscar and gives up an Oscar to act with Taylor in a movie.
Lindsay is a great actress, and looks gorgeous in this, hope she gets more good roles..
I think people who gave it anything less than a 4 were predetermined to hate it simply because Lindsay Lohan was playing Elizabeth Taylor, because Liz, for some overly idolized notion "deserved better." Please.
Lindsay does look very similar to Elizabeth Taylor - more so than any other actress I can think of.
She was a great little actress as a child, which, coupled with her resemblance, made her the perfect actress to play Elizabeth who also acted as a child, and in Liz & Dick she proved to me that she still has it.As for Grant Bowler, he too gave a wonderful performance as Richard, and I thought Bowler and Lohan had an electricity between them which was fitting.
Everyone from the public to the critics and the previous reviewers came to this movie with their minds made up to trash the film and the star, Miss Lohan.
I don't know if it's that Lindsay is a terrible actor, or Elizabeth was a terrible person but this is one of the worst movies I've ever seen.
Lindsay Lohan was magnificent in "Liz And Dick." She looked beautiful.
Just like Liz Taylor, Lindsay would randomly speak with a British-American accent, which I loved.
BTW the actor playing him had a voice VERY similar to the real Richard Burton.IMO - what was wrong with this film was that it was boring -- and that was because the two people being portrayed were boring.
let's forget (if we can) that Lindsey Lohan cannot act, either in this film or any of her past endeavors and try to ignore the fact that Bowler has also been criticized as being a terrible actor.
He wasn't always physically convincing as Burton but he CAN act and I only watched this this film to see his performance...
There may be some bias in my review, because I am a big Lohan fan, but I thought she did a fine job as Liz Taylor.On the other hand, it's definitely not her best performance, but there are moments when she does a great job, more towards the end when she's playing the older Taylor.The script is terrible, however.
If anyone is able to portray Elizabeth Taylors wild sense of untamed demeanour, carelessness for negative publicity and undying need for love, it's Lindsay Lohan.
I actually liked this movie, not only because I'm a huge fan of Lindsay Lohan but also because I think Lindsay together with Grant did their characters so well.
I think Lindsay could be a decent actress since in some scenes her portrayal of Taylor's heartbreak and sadness were moving, but other times simple subtle moments she missed by a mile by either overplaying it (when her and Richard first meet on the set of Cleopatra and she overacted Liz's disgust) or massively underplaying it (when she first sees Richard by the pool and she is supposed to be giving him a cold glare but instead she appears to do nothing).
The dude playing Richard Burton (Grant Bowler) wasn't terrible but Lindsay Lohan sure lived up to all the hype about her performance.
At least she kinda looked like Taylor, the make up and costumes were well done and I enjoyed seeing some of Liz's iconic wardrobe, hair and jewelry.But jeez the over the top acting from Lohan.
If Lindsay's performance was considered for quality of acting alone, without any consideration of her likeness to Liz, it wasn't bad.
This is a Lifetime movie about the love affair between Elizabeth Taylor (Lindsay Lohan) and Richard Burton (Grant Bowler).
It's an unflattering volatile love story.Elizabeth Taylor fans are not going to like this movie.
Grant Bowler sounds like Richard Burton but is too lean looking.
Lohan was the WORST choice to play Elizabeth Taylor.
Lohan fails to come even close to portraying the great Elizabeth Taylor.
If you are a Taylor or Burton fan, skip this film.
Both Taylor and Burton are out of character for most of the film.
Going into the movie I did not know much about Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
As for actors and actresses, I feel that Bowler played a believable role at Richard Burton, but Lohan she had played to many other roles that I am familiar with to successfully fill this role.
I'm exhausted from watching this trash so here's my honest opinion: 1) Lindsay Lohan does not work as Liz Taylor.
Some of the wigs and makeup and camera angles give Lindsay a fleeting resemblance to Elizabeth, but the faint likeness dissolves as soon as she speaks or moves.Grant Bowler seems like a good actor who's doing his best and he projects a reasonable similarity to Richard Burton, but his wigs are way too distracting and he also faces the same horrible dialogue and outlandish situations.
Elizabeth Taylor (Lindsay Lohan) and Richard Burton (Grant Bowler) were known for their love affair that started on the set of 1963's "Cleopatra it changed these once respected actors into the first people who could be classified as celebrities.
Also another big problem probably the biggest of all was the awful casting these casting directors choose by using wild child Lindsay Lohan as the legendary actress and less known Grant Bowler as the alcoholic Richard Burton.
First is Grant Bowler as Richard Burton who compared to the horrible mess that is his co-star comes off as a more standard lifetime performance but still he comes off bad going to much over the top rather then playing Richard as he really could have been then.
Then there is Lindsay Lohan who plays Miss Elizabeth Taylor and it is just laughable first she was cast but then that her performance was just so hard to watch.
Mostly I feel ashamed that Elizabeth Taylor is being given this type of film, but the only thing making me happy is Martin Scorsese wants to make a film about their relationship and that is the film I would love to see.MOVIE GRADE: G (MVP: Grant Bowler).
Lindsay Lohan gives an almost complete churlish performance as legendary star Elizabeth Taylor in this made for Lifetime television movie.
Lindsay Lohan is a talented actress and did a very good job as Elizabeth Taylor.
Grant Bowler looked very much like Richard Burton and sounded just like him.