Bee Movie Critic Carla Meyer was chatting with Nicolas Cage on Monday, all Hollywood like. The actor, in San Francisco to promote his upcoming film, "World Trade Center," had other movies on his mind, as well.

This is what Meyer had to say:

"Nicolas Cage's attraction to rhinestones transcends his famous affection for Elvis Presley. The Oscar-winning actor plans to direct and star in a biopic of the late piano showman Liberace," Meyer says.

Cage explained it to her as such:

"(Liberace) was good at what he did, and he did expand classical music to a pop audience by integrating pop with classical, which was brave. But he also became incredibly self-indulgent, and I think that injured him, and that's the mythology I want to explore."

The mythology apparently extends to the singer's sexuality, Cage said. Though Liberace rose to fame at a time when gay entertainers had to stay closeted, he also paved the way for flamboyant performers, Cage said, who would add full disclosure to their fabulousness.

"When you think about (his) influence, which is pretty unsung now, I don't think there would be Elton (John), if Liberace hadn't done what he did," Cage said.

The Liberace project, still in its beginning stages, would return Cage to Las Vegas, location of his exuberant comedy "Honeymoon in Vegas" and the far-less sparkly "Leaving Las Vegas," Meyer notes.

As for more on Cage and "World Trade Center" - which opens in theaters on Aug. 9 - watch for upcoming stories by Meyer in upcoming issues of Ticket and Scene.