In many ways, Lifetime’s Liz & Dick — the story of Elizabeth Taylor‘s tumultuous, decades-long romance with Richard Burton — is exactly like the couple’s life together: explosive, unbalanced and absolutely insane. And I mean that in a very good way.

Lindsay Lohan and Grant Bowler play the iconic Hollywood duo to perfection, and just like the couple, the movie is at its best when their relationship is at its worst. It’s pleasant to see them meet and fall in love, but it’s so much more entertaining to watch them fight and experience individual meltdowns — and isn’t that what you really want to see, anyway?

Lindsay Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor — Proud of Her Performance in ‘Liz and Dick’

She may not be known as a dramatic actress — you may recall her sporting a boob-less t-shirt in Mean Girls — but Lindsay displays moments of legitimate brilliance throughout this film. One particular scene comes to mind, in which she goes to visit Richard’s grave, that’s downright heartbreaking. And that’s not a spoiler; Dick died in 1984.

Grant is also superb as Elizabeth’s (arguably) better half, and if you think Lindsay is the only star capable of pulling off a full-on meltdown in this movie, just wait until you see what Grant has up his sleeve. When he’s not making sweet love to the camera with his seductive, gravelly baritone, he’s throwing tantrums of his own — and he never holds back.

Lindsay is most believable as Elizabeth when acting out her later years, perhaps because she herself can relate to someone who’s been completely drained by the media. In that sense, the casting is almost serendipitous. I can’t think of a more perfect actress to portray the struggles of a once-tabloid fixture than, well, a current tabloid fixture.

Speaking of which, the most interesting aspect of the film is seeing how Elizabeth and Richard’s day-to-day existence created and shaped the tabloid culture we accept as commonplace today. There’s even a scene in which someone defines “paparazzi,” a word I’m pretty sure is now in the dictionary.

And if you’re still not convinced to tune in when the movie premieres, know this: the phrase “slut on a hot tin roof” appears in the film. So, you know, just consider that.

Like Lindsay says in the movie, “I want more. More!”

Get a special behind-the-scenes look at Liz & Dick below, then drop a comment: Will you be watching the premiere Nov. 25 at 9 p.m. on Lifetime?

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Elizabeth Taylor, the mega-star who had survived so many health problems, died today at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in LA. Still, her passing came as a bit of a shock– her heart condition had appeared to stabilize in recent weeks and loved ones hoped she might have been heading back home soon!

Elizabeth, 79, a two-time Oscar-winner who made dozens of major movies, was probably even more famous for her violet-eyed beauty, her voluptuous form and her eight stormy marriages — including two go-rounds with the man who seemed to be the true love of her life,  actor Richard Burton.

In her later years, Liz promoted her own jewelry and fragrance lines — including the popular Passion and White Diamonds scent — and became a leading promoter for AIDS charities and research after the death of her friend Rock Hudson in 1985.

Her son Michael Wilding, one of her four children, released this statement
“Though her loss is devastating to those of us who held her so close and so dear, we will always be inspired by her enduring contribution to our world. Her remarkable body of work in film, her ongoing success as a businesswoman and her brave and relentless advocacy in the fight against HIV/AIDS all make us all incredibly proud of what she accomplished. We know, quite simply, that the world is a better place for Mom having lived in it. Her legacy will never fade, her spirit will always be with us, and her love will live forever in our hearts.”

Family members, including Michael, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton were at her bedside.Liz had 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren — the kids she called the light of her life.

She was most visible to a new generation of fans as a staunch friend and supporter of Michael Jackson through all of his personal and legal woes.

Tributes from stars started to appear shortly after news of her death.

“We have just lost a Hollywood giant. More importantly, we have lost an incredible human being,” said Elton John, a close friend.

Liz had been hospitalized more than 70 times for illnesses that included sciatica and a brain tumor. She died on March 23 — the same date her third husband, showman Mike Todd, was killed in a plane crash in 1958.

Born in England to American parents, Liz became a Hollywood star as child, starting with Lassie Come Home, in which she co-starred with lifelong friend Roddy McDowall, and National Velvet, the film that shot her to enormous fame at age 12. Her first adult box-office success was the 1950 comedy Father of the Bride, with Spencer Tracy.

She married her first husband, hotel heir Conrad Hilton Jr., in 1950. Next came actor Michael Wilding in 1952 and the producer Mike Todd in 1957. After his death, she turned to singer Eddie Fisher, creating a major scandal when he left his wife Debbie Reyonlds to marry Liz in 1959.

Just two weeks ago, Liz and Debbie, 78, spoke one last time. ”I said, ‘Getting old is really sh*t,’ ” Reynolds told Access Hollywood. “And she said, ‘It certainly is.’ “ In a statement, Debbie mourned her former rival by saying “no one else could equal Elizabeth’s beauty and sexuality. Women liked her and men adored her, and her love for her children is enduring.”

Liz’s marriage to Eddie ended spectacularly when Liz fell in love with co-star Richard Burton while shooting their big-budget flop Cleopatra in 1964.

With Richard, Liz would be embark on one of Hollywood’s most storied romances. They married and divorced twice, and fought it out on stage, screen and in real life. After taking her first Best Actress Oscar in 1960 for  BUtterfield 8, which co-starred Eddie, Liz won her second for her scathing role opposite Richard in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in 1966.

After her marriages with Richard, she married a U.S. senator, John Warner in 1976. In 1991, Liz wed construction worker Larry Fortensky – who she had met at the Betty Ford Clinic, where they both were being treated for substance abuse. They divorced in 1996, and Liz never married again.

In one her last interviews, to promote her Violet Eyes fragrance, she told Us Magazine the film she was proudest of was Virginia Woolf, that she cut her own hair when her stylist was not available, that her very first memory was of pain  – and that she thought her legs were too short!

Hollywood Remembers Elizabeth Taylor: Kim Kardashian & More Tweet Their Memories

Elizabeth Taylor Was A Beauty Icon. See Pics Of Her Most Gorgeous Looks!

David Fincher is looking like the main candidate to direct ‘Cleopatra,’ meaning Brad and Angie could reprise the roles that Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor made famous!

Angelina Jolie has long been confirmed to play the titular role in the upcoming Cleopatra, and, for those who have been hoping she may team up with Brad Pitt, there is some pretty great news! Deadline reports that, “the director conversation right now is with David Fincher.” David, who has directed three of Brad’s films. Could this become their fourth project together?

Brad and Angie would not be the first hot Hollywood couple to take on the roles of Cleopatra and Marc Antony, as Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor also took on the same roles in the 1963 film. Richard and Elizabeth’s tumultuous relationship, and multiple marriages to one another, are a far cry from Brad and Angie however.

Brad and David worked together on Se7en, Fight Club and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button — all amazing flicks. Brad and Angie also worked together, and met, on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Brad and Angie have said they are open to working together again so we want to know HollywoodLifers — do you want to see them together in Cleopatra?

The latest Hollywood blockbuster in development will be about the love life of one of Tinseltown’s most famous celebrities, Elizabeth Taylor, and already there are two major actresses duking it out for the lead — Angelina Jolie and Catherine Zeta Jones! The Telegraph reports, “Hollywood sources told the US TV show Entertainment Tonight that both Jolie, 35, and Zeta Jones, 40, had expressed an interest in playing Taylor.”

As for the male lead, Elizabeth’s long time love and husband twice over Richard Burton, the names being mentioned are Russell Crowe, Colin Farrell, and Clive Owen.

The biggest hurdle in Angelina’s way however is that Catherine Zeta-Jones already IS Elizabeth Taylor. The jewels, the fur, the lifestyle, the only thing the Catherine and Angie share is the Hollywood hunk partner!

Should Angelina not manage to snag the role she can take solace in the fact that she has already scored Elizabeth’s most iconic role ever — Cleopatra!

Who do you think would make the better Elizabeth HollywoodLifers?