The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, Indiana

It has been a week since my last blog entry, so I'm weighted down with material, so much so that I can hardly walk.

In this entry, we discuss the phenomenon that occurs when Hollywood throws the world a curveball that seems to come from behind the batter.

Such a curveball is the latest project from Steven ("Ocean's Eleven") Soderbergh.

On two different Web sites today -- aintitcool.com and darkhorizons.com -- I found the following item. And it has left me enervated, puzzled and shaking my head like it's been raining.

Basically, the news from Variety is that Soderbergh will direct and Richard LaGravanese ("The Fisher King," "Freedom Writers") will write a biographical feature film about famed -- and closeted -- pianist Liberace.

Of course, there's nothing shocking about that news. I mean, "Ray" and "Walk the Line" brought the stories of Ray Charles and Johnny Cash to the screen, and they were of roughly the same time period.

The shocker is the proposed casting.

What actor would you get to play Liberace, he of the sequined ermine wraps and mirrored pianos, whose shrine Elton John worships at?

Go ahead. Pick one. Or two. Or three. You'll never even get close.

Who does Soderbergh see at Liberace?

Michael Douglas.

Roll that around in your head for a few days. Michael Douglas. He of the testosterone-driven heterosexual epics, like "Basic Instinct" and "Fatal Attraction."

But -- as the late, lamented John Belushi would have said -- that's not the weird part. You'd think that was the weird part, but it's not.

Who is Soderbergh thinking of casting as Liberace's spurned lover, Scott Thorson?

Matt Damon.

Talk about your "Good Will Hunting."