Watch Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story

Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story is a made-for-television biopic that chronicles the life of one of Hollywood's most glamorous actresses, Elizabeth Taylor, from her early childhood days to her rise as a Hollywood icon. The movie was released in 1995 and stars Sherilyn Fenn as Elizabeth Taylor, Nigel Havers as Richard Burton, and Katherine Helmond as Sara Taylor, Elizabeth's mother.

The movie begins with Elizabeth's childhood in London, where she was born to American parents, Francis and Sara Taylor. The film shows how Elizabeth's parents had to move to the United States to escape World War II and how Elizabeth eventually discovered her love for acting. After a few years, she was discovered by a talent scout, and her career took off.

As Elizabeth becomes more successful, she falls in love with actor Nicky Hilton, whom she later marries. However, the marriage turns sour when Nicky's jealousy and abusive behavior takes a toll on Elizabeth's life. The marriage eventually ends, and Elizabeth moves on to marry her co-star from the movie Cleopatra, Richard Burton.

The movie showcases the turbulent relationship between Elizabeth and Richard, who were both Hollywood's most famous stars at the time. They married and divorced twice, and their tumultuous love story is portrayed in the film with great intensity. Despite the ups and downs, their love for each other remained unwavering until Richard's untimely death in 1984.

Apart from Elizabeth's love life, the movie also showcases her battle with addiction, particularly to painkillers, and her philanthropic work with the Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation. It portrays how Elizabeth used her star power to raise awareness and funds for AIDS research at a time when the disease was shrouded in stigma and fear.

Throughout the movie, Sherilyn Fenn gives a fantastic performance as Elizabeth Taylor, capturing her beauty, charm, and vulnerability with great accuracy. She convincingly portrays Elizabeth's struggles with addiction, her love affairs, and her determination to use her fame for a good cause.

Nigel Havers, who plays Richard Burton, also gives a convincing performance. He showcases the actor's charm and charisma, as well as his struggles with alcoholism and infidelity. Katherine Helmond, on the other hand, plays the overbearing mother Sara with aplomb, highlighting her manipulative tendencies and her strained relationship with Elizabeth.

The movie, directed by Kevin Connor, stays true to Elizabeth's story, with great attention to detail. The costumes, hair, and makeup are all well done, and the movie's soundtrack features some of Taylor's most famous films. The movie's pacing is also spot on, moving rapidly through the most significant moments in Elizabeth Taylor's life without feeling rushed.

Overall, Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story is a compelling biopic that showcases the life of an extraordinary woman who led a life full of love, scandal, and tragedy. It will appeal to fans of Elizabeth Taylor and classic Hollywood, as well as anyone interested in a good love story.

Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story is a 1995 drama. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.