Liz, Lindsay and the Coincidence of Parallel Lives

6:00 AM PST 11/6/2012 by M.G. Lord

Lost childhoods, drugs, scandal. How the redemptive life of Taylor, now played by Lohan in "Liz & Dick," could serve as a road map to the deeply troubled star.

Lifetime plans to release screeners to the press of Liz & Dick, its Elizabeth Taylor biopic, on Nov. 16, a week ahead of its airdate. Already I can hear the rasp of knives being sharpened. Lindsay Lohan will play Taylor, a controversial casting decision that might prove smarter than Lohan's detractors hope -- especially if critics, bloggers and then the public can give her a fair shake.