(Photo is first look of Lindsay Lohan and Grant Bowler in Liz & Dick)
'Lindsay Lohan? As Elizabeth freaking Taylor!? No, no way. How could she ever be able to pull that one off!?' was what I thought to myself. The combination of the two were like oil and water in my mind. I mean first of all, we are talking about ELIZABETH TAYLOR! This is the woman who portrayed Cleopatra in Cleopatra and Maggie Pollitt in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. She is a Hollywood Icon that, even after her passing, still hold sway as one of Hollywoods most esteemed actresses. So how could Lindsay Lohan be cast to play her?
It was absurd. Lindsay Lohan is the Hollywood bad girl, always getting in trouble, known for a terrible work ethic and is on the ever up and down roller coaster of Hollywood stardom. But after giving this whole idea some thought, this match up really wasn't so absurd.
For most of us, we see Elizabeth Taylor as pictured here. Beautiful, elegant, timeless. A woman who had it all. But Elizabeth and Lindsay are more alike then most people realize.
Both had their start in Hollywood from a very young age and then proceeded to grow up in that ever judgmental spotlight. They each had what I guess could be classified as crazy mothers and contrary to popular belief, Liz was a bit the bad girl herself. She was a party girl and woman who loved to be loved as her eight marriages to seven different men will tell you.
I thought about these things when contemplating the idea of Lindsay playing Liz and my original feelings have changed somewhat about it.
Even though Lindsay Lohan isn't exactly what we would call the Greatest Actress of Our Generation, there is a lot I think that she can relate to in Elizabeth Taylor. That connection and feeling of understanding I think will contribute greatly to her acting as she plays this role. Lindsay has yet to really shine in her acting profession but with that being said, I'm actually sort of excited to see how she'll pull this off.
She isn't going to be replaying a character that Elizabeth Taylor played but will actually be embracing and portraying the woman herself, a human being with complexities, anxieties and emotions that other people can relate to. Granted, this won't be easy but I think if Lindsay can grasp and relate to this other woman she has a big job of portraying, than I think this movie and her acting will be... rather decent.
I'm all up for second chances and I'm not exactly a fan of Lindsay Lohan but if she can get this role right and really do it justice, than she might have a little more of my respect as an actress. I'm excited to see how she does and I honestly hope she does well. I think she realizes the big task on her shoulders in play Liz Taylor and perhaps that realization will actually bring on a much needed maturity. So from a 1 to 5 on the Movies I Can't Wait to See List I would give this a 2.5. I'm anxious to see it but not so much so that I'll stay up all night in anticipation.
