Screening HBO's THE WIZARD OF LIES: Panel with DeNiro, Pfeiffer, Azaria, Dir Levinson and Author

THE WIZARD of LIES is an HBO film about Bernie Madoff the largest financial fraud in US history.  It will debut on May 20th.  Last night the 92ndY held a screening followed by a panel discussion with the films stars: Robert DeNiro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hank Azaria, Alessandro Nivola.  Also present were the author of the book THE WIZARD of LIES, Diana Henriques, who played herself interviewing Merdoff.  Dir/producerBarry Levinson & exec producer Jane Rosenthal were also part of the post screening conversation.   Henriques has been a NYTimes financial journalist who interviewed Merdoff prior to his arrest/conviction & the only reporter granted an in-depth interview while incarcerated.  His Ponzi scheme which was reported to the FBI by his sons in Dec. 2008.   Merdoff pled guilty on all charges & sentenced to serve 150 years.  This has garnered massive media attention & prior TV adaption.  Needless, this historic representation is a compelling family drama & intriguing psychological examination that is extremely engrossing despite its repugnant narcissistic subject who destroyed thousands of lives; including those of his family.  Rosenthal chose to adapt Henriques' book "because she was the only who had direct contact with Merdoff."  The film has an intense credibility, cogent storytelling, and fascinating family dynamics.  The entire cast is phenomenal.  Pfeiffer's portrayal of Ruth Merdoff enlists sympathy as a naive & untethered  wife/mother & victim at the center.  The sons Mark (Alessandro Nivola) and Andy (Nathan Darrow) seemed innocent of all conspiratorial criminal activity & elicited compassion amidst the havoc.   Both bothers turned their father's activities to the FBI as advised by their atty or face charges of complicity.  Mark hung himself 2 years later & Andrew died of lymphoma in Sept '14.  Levinson's brilliant directing made this a fascinating real life drama depicting the enormous calamitous fallouts. The brothers appeared besieged by shame, resentment and guilt. They distanced themselves from each other & their mother.  Mark's descent into suicidal depression is painful & intelligible.  Andrew's defiance & character felt meritous.  And, Ruth's ostracism & disillusionment was penetrating.  DeNiro gave a masterful performance.  He captured the narcissism & delusional omnipotence of a sociopath. Henriques says to Merdoff that either his sons were complicit in the Ponzi operation or upon inheriting the business, they would inherit the responsibility for his guilt.  Merdoff refuses to acknowledge either scenario, continuously places blame on other's greed & irate at being compared to Ted Bundy by the media.  The last scene in the prison, Merdoff turns the tide on the journalist asking her if she thinks he's a sociopath.   The illustrious panel gave an intuitive & entertaining insight into their artistic collaboration making this evening unforgettable.