Film Review: Behind the Candelabra

Director: Steven Soderbergh

The biography of the life of one of the most glitzy men in show business was to be the last film of Soderberghs impressive career presuming he doesn't decide to come out of retirement, Soderbergh said that Hollywood wasn't interested in him and his movies anywhere with it being more interested in mind numbing blockbusters which means that the movie going public is once again worse off. The film is based on the memoirs of Scott Thorson who spent many years with Liberace as an almost secret lover, the book was called Behind the Candelabra: My Life With Liberace and it was released in 1988.

Liberace with lover Scott Thorson

Scott Thorson (Matt Damon) leaves his small town looking for better paid work and is introduced to Liberace (Michael Douglas) back stage after own of his shows. The two get on great and Liberace becomes Scott's lover as well as a sort of father figure to him, Scott soon becomes accustomed to the high life of Liberace's mansion and money but not everything is easy at seems in his life.

Many said the film was 'too gay' for Hollywood after all the studios companies passed on releasing it in America so it ended up being aired on HBO, fortunately in the UK it was released fully into cinemas. It's a strange decision from Hollywood as the film does have some gay sex scenes but is hardly over the top and Liberace's lifestyle always was a bit camp, I guess this just proves Soderbergh's point about Hollywood not being interested in the sort of films he makes anymore.

A hilarious looking Rob Lowe as plastic surgeon Dr. Jack Startz

An almost black comedy at times as we laugh at the gaudiness of Liberace's life and lifestyle in the late 70's and early 80's. Douglas is excellent as the loving yet increasingly demanding Liberace who is so kind and yet calculatingly mean at the same time, Damon puts in a solid effort but I felt Thorson could have been cast better. The story is intriguing from the outset but does drag its heels in the latter parts as the joy of the opening scenes turns to anger and disappointment. It does better on the lighter side with the comedy and struggles to punch its weight in the more serious moments.

2.5/4 An intriguing look behind the glitz and glamour