We all know that the Bernard Madoff story is ripe for Hollywood's exploitation. Such a reality is evidently not lost on actor Michael Imperioli best known for his role as Christopher Moltisanti from HBO's "The Sopranos," who may be working on a possible biopic about the convicted Ponzi schemer. Buried in a New York Times story about Madoff's sentencing Monday is a reference to Imperioli appearing amid the crowds. When asked why he was there, he reportedly told the Times he was doing research for a new film. With a little makeup, Imperioli certainly could play the role of the 71-year-old con man. - Matthew Wurtzel
See story from The New York Times
See related story about alleged Madoff accomplices from Dealscape
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As a potential movie villain, Madoff is no Capone, Tony Montana, or Cody Jarrett. He seems too cold and blase about his crimes to center a film around. So such a film would not them be a vehicle for a DeNiro, Pacino, or Cagney. Maybe Imperioli could pull it off.
Besides, as I understand it, almost none of victims ever even SAW Madoff until his arrest; they only heard about what a genius he was. So a Hollywood film would almost have to center on a fevered investigation and the eventual unraveling of the scheme. You could add to the tension with sedate scenes of Bernie and Ruth.