‘Wizard of Lies’ Sucks You Into Bernie Madoff’s Monstrous World

To understand Barry Levinson’s newest film, “Wizard of Lies,” a viewer will have to be taken into the underbelly of one the largest financial scams known in history. Bernard “Bernie” Lawrence Madoff pulled off one the largest Ponzi schemes, in which he defrauded thousands of investors accumulating tens of billions of dollars. In 2009 Madoff pleaded guilty to 11 federal counts that included mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering, amongst numerous other charges. His slated release date is November 14, 2139.

In Levinson’s film “Wizard of Lies” Robert De Niro plays the role of the pioneer financier and unfolds the story of Madoff’s nearly 20-year-long scam. De Niro packs a lot of punch in the allotted time slot for a made for television movie. The film is an adaptation of Diana B. Henriques’s book “The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust which was updated and released in 2012.

Instead of focusing on the numerous frauds committed with celebrities such as John Malkovich and Kevin Bacon, the film is more character-based. Exactly how this wolf on Wall Street got his start and how his family is affected is explored in detail. De Niro plays the role of the investor with great ease, and almost immediately the audience will find that his character’s role is unlikable, to say the least.

Richard Dreyfuss’s character in the mini-series “Madoff” was more personable, with the crack of an occasional joke that showed a more lighthearted side of the character. De Niro’s role as the heist-master is much more dark and evil; at times you find yourself feeling sorry for the man until you realize that he indeed is a monster.

Another major contender in the film is Michelle Pfeiffer’s performance as Ruth Madoff. Playing the part of the ill-fated wife who fought off suicide attempts and watched in horror as her family was dethroned; Pfeiffer’s steals the show in every shot. Where the film falters is tying together all the loose ends it unravels throughout the two hours of airing. A chilling depiction of the downfall of the Madoffs makes for a satisfying ending, with Madoff begging the question, “Do you think I’m a sociopath?”

The film also stars Hank Azaria as Frank Dipascali, Kristen Connolly as Stephanie Madoff, and Alessandro Nivola as Mark Madoff.

Wizard of Lies” premieres on HBO May 20  at 8 p.m. ET.