There's another Biography on the block, this one on the late pianist Liberace. Of course, with a series this mainstream and, to an extent, family-viewing-oriented, one would expect that much of the flamboyant performer's qualities would be dulled down. But the show does capture the various insanities and absurdities of his life, and is filled with clips of his more outrageous outfits.

The lurid details of his love life and sexual habits are, for the most part, left out--which is really a downer. What's a show like this if they don't go out of their way to dish the dirt? Besides, the lurid, behind-the-scenes stuff only points up the most disturbing thing about the man who was Liberace: that despite the fact that everyone could see he was gay, he went to his grave in brutal, pathetic denial. Though Biography works as pseudo-tabloid fodder, I'll wait till there's a show called Pathography for the real, gritty story of Liberace.

While on the topic of repression, The Talented Mr. Ripley hits video stands this Tuesday, June 27. I was surprised when Anthony Minghella's intricate and clever suspense film was overlooked in the Best Picture Oscar category. Check it out. :

--Matthew Hays