Behind the Candelabra

118mins 

Genre: Biography/comedy 

USA 

Director: Steven Soderbergh 

Writers : Richard LaGravenese (Screenplay) Scott Thorson and Alex Thorleifson (book) 

Cast: Matt Damon, Scott Bakula and Michael Douglas.

Plot

Campy Film based on Thorson’s memoir about his tempestuous  5 year affair with pianist Liberace. 

Review

A deeply black comedy about loneliness, unhappiness and denial, Douglas is fantastic as the strangely reptilian Liberace who is a brilliant genius when it comes to playing the piano and doesn’t need to rehearse. He’s also a brilliant genius at picking up young men in an age when being a homosexual was kept well hidden, behind closed doors.  When Scott first sees Liberace he comments ‘’It’s funny this crowd would like something this gay’’ about the audience older ladies watching the master pianist, someone replies ‘’Oh, they have no idea he’s gay.’’  Liberace is both putting his homosexuality on display as part of his lavish performances and denying it to the papers.

Damon is perfect as the as Scott like a huge buff angel with no wings who embarks on the ill fated co-dependent relationship with Liberace. The latter is intent on molding the young man into a younger version of himself using plastic surgery and diet pills. Rob Lowe, who is still impossibly perfect looking is fantastically well cast as the plastic surgeon (in the 80’s he was labeled the Farrah Fawcett of men due to his chiseled beauty…)

Eventually their affair disintegrates and Liberace finds another assistant and Scott is left out in the cold contemplating legal in typical Hollywood style.

The film was in competition in Cannes but was made by American television network HBO and was shown on American television but gets a cinema release in the UK.

Great film, super kitsch with great performances.

5 out of 5 stars.