Robert De Niro Gets Uncanny In The Trailer For The Wizard Of Lies

HBO has release the trailer of The Wizard of Lies which stars Robert De Niro. Directed by Barry Levinson, the film chronicles the collapse of Bernie Madoff’s financial empire, showing what was going behind the scenes as the investors realized to their horror that Madoff’s investments were non-existent and that hundreds of millions of dollars of their money had disappeared forever. It makes for a contemporary cautionary tale about deception, the illusory safety of financial institutions, and greed.

De Niro looks uncannily like Madoff in this trailer, showing the cracks beginning to form in his pinstriped facade. He’ll be ably supported by Michelle Pfeiffer as Ruth Madoff, who became unwittingly entangled in her husband’s deception. Purely in terms of imagery, this looks great – my favourite shot being Madoff illuminated by a roomful of ‘fire’ screensavers making him look appropriately diabolical.

We’ll find out whether or not this is a true return to form from De Niro when The Wizard of Lies debuts on HBO on May 20th.