User reviews

I would not want to be the person shopping around a serious script in Hollywood about the life of the famous pianist Liberace. It would be the toughest of sells to a culture that would likely feel the material is too dry and the demand too little. A slightly campier script, with luxurious set design and intimate portrayals of characters the public wouldn't likely know about is what I'd like to get my hands on. The story of Liberace is stranger than fiction and dryer, more serious material could've corrupted its overall goals and ambitions.

The film with the campier script, luxurious set designs, and intimate portrayals is Steven Soderbergh's Behind the Candelabra, a wonderful, limitless look at the life of Liberace, an enigma in every sense of the word. In addition to playing many sold-out shows, the man had a lovelife like no other at the time, meeting and becoming fast friends with Scott Thorson, an aspiring veterinarian who was quickly made his lover. Thorson seemed to have a genuine understanding of the loneliness and lack of friendship Liberace had and provided him with great talks, great compassion, and great sex.

The relationship, however, resulted in drug addiction, intense plastic surgery, lies, mistrust, and ended with a lawsuit. Soderbergh and writer Richard LaGravenese don't hesitate to explore this and make it one of the deepest focuses in the picture. The relationships the men had had the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. The scenes when they are together in a hot tub are human and romantic. The scenes when they are fighting are heartbreaking because you realize that these men haven't just come so far to make their relationship work but losing each other after so long would be detrimental to their self-esteems and egos. They complete each other and that's where the magic is at its strongest.

Liberace is played by Michael Douglas in one of the bravest roles of his career. So brave and powerful that it's unfortunate that because of the film's TV movie status it is ineligible for an Academy Award nomination. Douglas is an actor who is never conventional with his role choice. The same man who played a common-man pushed off a cliff of sanity, an executive victim to a consuming, real-life game, and a worried father of a drug-addicted daughter is the same man playing a middle-aged, flamboyant pianist with a love for wonder, music, and men. The diversity in role choice is stunning.

Matt Damon appears at his youngest as Liberace's lover Scott, in an equally conflicted, complex performance. Damon fills the shoes of the role beautifully and effectively, giving off much in the way of creative energy and heart as he shows just how stressed and torn Thorson must've been in a relationship with someone who truly loved and understood him but wanted to manipulate him. Supporting performances from Rob Lowe as Liberace's doctor, prescribing medicines to both him and Thorson and Dan Aykroyd as his manager are terrific and often are seen providing strong comic relief.

For a TV movie to have the cinematography and atmosphere that Behind the Candelabra does is truly a feature worth nothing. It may not be as excessive as Baz Luhrmann's Great Gatsby - I don't expect anything of the next two years to be on par with that film - but rarely has a TV movie achieved such phenomenally vibrant and luscious standards. The only thing that could make it better is Soderbergh proving he knows how to work with it and he most certainly does.

HBO seems to be the go-to network for biographical films about figures that wouldn't likely make appropriate return in the theaters (Behind the Candelabra especially considering the summer movie season has already hit the ground running). David Mamet, just a few months ago, directed the delightful and shockingly unbiased Phil Spector, with actors like Al Pacino and Helen Mirren receiving top-billing. Seeing as a Liberace biopic is directed by none other than Soderbergh, I wouldn't be surprised at seeing a slew of films about eclectic media figures being made and released on HBO in the next few years. Networks that have the drive and willingness to air these kinds of films are a necessity to the success of film.

Starring: Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Rob Lowe, and Dan Aykroyd. Directed by: Steven Soderbergh.

With same sex marriage now becoming a reality in many areas it's a good thing to examine some of the relationships that were and still are considered the norm in the gay world. Such a relationship involved Liberace and Scott Thorson played with extraordinary verisimilitude by Michael Douglas and Matt Damon in Behind The Candelabra. This film directed by Steven Soderbergh should have received a big screen release.

There's a whole generation of people who have grown up and another one growing who have no knowledge of Liberace the entertainer. Now with so many show business celebrities never even entering the closet let alone emerging it almost seems quaint how Liberace took such pains to hide who and what he was as if such a flamboyant personality ever could.

With the kind of wealth he amassed Liberace could get just about anyone he wanted and on his own terms. So when young Scott Thorson came back stage one fine afternoon and Liberace took one look at him it was lust at first sight. His current flame went and Scott was ensconced in the palatial estate in Las Vegas which he lived in luxury as a kept boy toy.

These relationships are always dangerous. Scott may have the attractiveness, but Liberace had the money and the power. Years ago when I worked at New York State Crime Victims Board I had a case where a man in his 60s was killed and left a surviving partner in his 40s and they had been together for about 20 years. It was a relationship like Liberace and Thorson had. The older man was a business executive and the younger did nothing but keep house. Because there was no same sex marriage when the older man died, the younger inherited nothing that was not in his name. But worse than that he had no job or trade he could fall back on, he was completely dependent on the older for support. Scott Thorson wanted to be a veterinarian when he met Liberace. I'm sure he's sorry he didn't learn some kind of job to fall back on. The palimony suit that he brought against Liberace was out of sheer necessity.

Douglas and Damon bring both men alive for a younger generation, more importantly a younger generation of LGBT young people who can see what it was like in the bad old days which aren't quite over. The two truly dominate the film, but Debbie Reynolds as Liberace venerated mother and Dan Aykroyd as business manager Seymour Heller and most of all Rob Lowe as a quack doctor who hooks Damon on diet pills are quite memorable. Matt Damon who is getting on should have done this project in the 90s. But his skill pulls off the part where he's clearly too old.

I recommend this film highly for young gay audiences.

Liberace was a brilliantly gifted Maestro who never disappointed his fans despite the most viciously mean spirited and relentless attacks against Liberace's art, craft & personal life's flaw's. Critics misrepresenting themselves as knowledgeable in music, on any, level, only succeeded in showing their gross ignorance about Liberace's, or anybody's music career. Behind The Candelabra brought Liberace to life again, and humanized him again for his millions of fans who continue to appreciate the Maestro's brilliance in his art & craft. The lifelong dedication Liberace held for his art & craft fearlessly tore down barriers against high art in his quest to bring high art to the masses. Others before him, Chopin, Beethoven, Debussy, Mozart also were persecuted and very misunderstood nor appreciated for their cultural contributions to their art & craft. Mercifully what is most interesting to Liberace's fans here,is not what his critics think & say, that never ceases, as on these very pages here. Dostoyevsky put it best when he wrote in great detail how the masses most despise the art's, they pretend to revere. Maybe Liberace might never be truly recognized as the rosetta stone for piano music, he is. But, if it is not about art, surely it is a love story, and though shallow a love story, let's be honest, its very appropriate since it's not Liberace's point of view, But Scott Thorson's point of view that this story is all about. Also what is not said, is Scott Thorson's predatory penchant for stooping however low necessary to support his lifelong penchant as a dope addict. If were truly honest about pointing fingers then, though Liberace was deeply flawed, so was Scott and in the end the one cancels out the other and were left with a very tragic love story.

I had heard some about Liberace before seeing Steven Soderbergh's "Behind the Candelabra", namely about his tendency to dress flamboyantly and his eventual death from AIDS. The movie shows him to be a more complex character than that, the type who simply would find young men, and then proverbially chew them up and spit them out.

Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, and the rest all do a fine job in their roles. Although Liberace never came out as gay, I figure that most people probably suspected it; he was certainly the flasher. Without a doubt, this was one of Soderbergh's best movies. Definitely see it. Also starring are Debbie Reynolds (in her final role), Dan Aykroyd, Scott Bakula and Rob Lowe.

Or just plain "Liberace" as it is called in Germany. I wasn't aware of much of his life as it is, but one things is obvious from the moment he steps on screen. And by "he" I mean Michael Douglas as Liberace: He is into men! And Michael Douglas who is famous for being overly sexual with women playing that role is a big risk. Or one could think it is. But watching this, you could say this was a master plan.

Matt Damon is of course the character we as viewers should feel attached to. And it makes sense (if you are not too homophobic), his actions and what he is doing in the movie. There are not too many erotic scenes in the movie, which the movie does need anyway and might help it with a straight audience too. Acting wise this is great, although I heard this was meant to be a TV production, it did play in theaters in the UK and Germany.

Rob Lowe is back too and he has a phenomenal performance even though he is just a bit player. If you are not afraid of the story/content, you should be able to watch a very entertaining drama played out. How close it is to the truth? Again, I can't comment on that, I can only say that it was a thrill to watch

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

Scott Thorsen (Matt Damon) was a young, naive farm boy who worked on movie sets, before he was introduced one night to entertainment giant Liberace (Michael Douglas) after a show, and became his lover, spending the late 70's and early 80's in his life before he was tumultuously thrown out, only to get his own back with a tell all book about their time together, before a brief reconciliation before Liberace's death in 1987.

Steven Soderbergh's latest high profile biopic, which essentially serves as a temporary resurrection of a man who was once as big as Elvis or Sinatra, has managed to prove controversial for any number of reasons, not least of which was the casting of Matt Damon as a young man of eighteen, despite being 42 years of age himself. The first high point the movie strikes is pulling off the incredible feat of genuinely managing to make Damon look this age, a real masterstroke from the make up/lighting department. All the same, in a still largely conservative America, the film was deemed "too gay" for mainstream cinema goers, despite it's massive Oscar potential, and only managed to make it as a HBO TV movie, and doesn't manage to hide it's production values quite so convincingly. Some of the greatest sadness's are caused by a nonsense, since it's ridiculous to think most Americans wouldn't be forward thinking enough to enjoy this lavish, touching and highly impressive true life story.

In the main roles, Douglas and Damon very bravely cast aside their tough guy personas to portray the original Elton John and David Furnish, only in a day and age where this kind of relationship had to be kept completely behind the scenes rather than plastered all over the front page of OK! Magazine, and it's testament that they manage to play them so well. As Liberace, Douglas captures the gay mannerisms and styles perfectly, showcasing a flamboyant character it seems inconceivable anyone could doubt was gay nowadays. He evokes a gentle innocence and dislike of confrontation, juxtaposed with a thin line between whether he has genuine love for Scott or a filthy, perverted lust. Meanwhile, Damon is explosive as the emotionally volatile, needy, unworldly wise Scott, who is never completely able to lose his affection for Liberace despite the worst treatment. Like a dog, the worse he's treated, the more he loves, though with this in mind it still doesn't take away from a deeply tender and heart-breaking ending.

This isn't the type of movie I'd go out my way to see, but with nothing else on and being quite a fan of the lead star, I gave it a go and think I spent my time well. If the lead stars don't provide enough dramatic dynamism for you, there's still a lively supporting cast including Rob Lowe, Dan Ackroyd and Scott Bakula to ensure the characters working in the background for the main characters also get their less pivotal, but still highly relevant, inclusion. ****

From the very beginning of the film I knew this was going to be a rock solid drama. The trailer is completely accurately gives you a sneak peak into a great film that has all you want; believable acting, costumes, setting, musical performance and surprisingly comedy.

There are sex scenes to those you might be ambiguous about seeing this movie. They are quite tolerable as you don't see any penetration or anything too vulgar. There is one scene with Matt Damon onto top of Michael Douglas that is quick and not graphic. Most of the sex is discussed or occurs of screen.

Mostly surprisingly as I mentioned before is the comedy element. It is not obvious if it was intentional or a result of us now knowing what these well dressed men were up to. Either way Rob Lowe's stiff facial expressions are poignantly funny.

If you have any interest in seeing this film I highly recommend that you do see it. Films like these don't come along that often; it gives shows us Liberace's lifestyle, his showmanship, the nature of gay relationships in the 70's & 80's, and has a respectfully emotional ending.

From the opening blast of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love" to the closing riffs on "The Impossible Dream," you know you are in for a real treat, especially thanks to excellent performances all around. Michael Douglas and Matt Damon are revelations here--these two performances, I think, rank among their very best, not only for being pitch-perfect, and often quite funny, but for being brave, honest, no-holds-barred, and most of all, faithful--personality flaws and all--to their characters, which stay with you long after the final curtain drops. Both actors deserve Emmy Awards for these performances. Sensitive direction raises the story from the merely sordid and tawdry to the realm of tragedy. Bravo to all involved.

Seems strange to me that huge studios would pass up on a film like this considering its big line-up of A-list male screen actors; but I guess I'm more open minded than most of the motion picture viewing audiences. This film wasn't anymore gay than "ShowGirls" was misogynist, objectifying and offensive, and it had far more depth and was way more interesting.

Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, Dan Ackroyd, and Rob Lowe give absolutely stunning and brilliant performances in this movie. I mean wow...what talent...Until this film, I hadn't realized what incredible range Michael Douglas.

What may be surprising to most is that being so wealthy and not all that good looking really, Liberace had no shortage of boy toys at his disposal. Not all of them were prostitutes.

The film dramatically chronicles the dramatic twists, nightmares and pleasures he ran into when he got into a relationship with a 16 year old known by the name of Scott Thorson. The film does not spend that much time talking about the LIberace's grueling lucrative career and famous persona

Behind the Candelbra is great fiesta of great actors. Script emphasizes brilliantly 70's and 80's zeitgeist when homosexuality was still forbidden and illegitimate. Michael Douglas sparkles as aging Liberace and Matt Damon is ingenious as young boy who falls in love with Liberace. Movie underlines finely how sinfulness show business is at the time period when artist should surely determine his career if telling to be homosexual. Movie tells sophisticated love story where Liberace can buy everything with his money, even love. Liberace fulfill his life loneliness with shopping everything he can, even young men. Matt Damon acts elegantly young man who falls in love for rich and famous older guy. Money, sex alcohol and drugs finally ends poor boys fairy tell from rags to riches. Movie doesn't underline Liberaces rich and luxury life who can buy everything with his money, even a love but tells a vulnerable love story. Even they love story ends belligerent divorce it is still nice to see that Scott was Liberaces true love. At his deathbed Liberace tells to Scott that he was his only true love. Brilliant roles and great script crowns this beautiful and funny movie.

Greetings from Lithuania.

"Behind the Candelabra" (2013) is a truly amazing movie, filled with outstanding performances by two leads, and superb stuff by supporting actors. This is a great biopic, i didn't new nothing about the musician itself, but was so involved in a story unfolding on the screen. It's a superb picture in all directions. Michael Douglas is mindblowingly great in this picture, truly deserves all cudos and awards fro this picture - if it had been made for a big screen, it would be a guaranty Oscar for best performance. Writing, pacing, directing, everything works here to create one great picture.

Overall, this is not your typical biopic about heroes, it's about a man, with his wishes, weaknesses and life itself. Great picture.

I always wanted to know the story of Liberace I remember as a young kid when he died of AIDS, I must say that this HBO original movie from Steven Soderbergh captures the life story almost perfect. The film called "Behind the Candelabra" is based some on the autobiographical novel of the 6 year relationship between the yours truly and the much younger lover Scott Thorson. Starting in 1977 at the height of Liberace's fame and popularity a young ranch and farm hand in Northern California a young bisexual man named Scott Thorson(Matt Damon)is able to meet Liberace in Las Vegas thru one of his gay connections. And soon after attending more and more of the legendary pianist concerts and events young Scott is taken under the wings and seduction spell of the fabulous and flamboyant pianist called the one and only Liberace(in a beautiful and shining performance from Michael Douglas). This love affair would last nearly 6 years the relationship comes to it's highest points in Liberace's Las Vegas mansion. Going all the way thru the couple's rocky times when Liberace cheated on Scott with a younger man till the legendary musician's death of AIDS in early 1987 this is one autobiographical film that can't be missed as it goes behind the scenes of a legendary gay relationship it's a historical shine.

I really wanted to see Behind the Candelabra but was a bit unsure. I like films to be conventional dramas and thought this movie could get a bit weird. I was completely wrong. It was a fascinating bio pic about the relationship of evanescent Liberace (played by Michael Douglas) and what was a teenage Scott Thorson (played ironically by 40 year old Matt Damon). It is a compelling drama as you watch the shifting levels of power between the two men. Both characters, while flawed seem genuinely nice people and have a real affection for each other, something that surprised me a great deal. Douglas and Damon have been nominated for Golden Globes. Although this is for television which also surprised me since it screened in cinemas in Australia. I guess some stories remain taboo for a long time. It is an interesting and well directed piece and well worth the two hours it takes to watch it.

Michael Douglas stars as Liberace and Matt Damon as his young lover Scott. This story is about their relationship from the latter's point of view and is in parts drama, dark comedy and horror. The drama is in the pathetic and inevitable cycle of their relationship with the tragedy of addiction and aids on the side. The comedy is scattered through out and is provided by the grotesque entourage. The predatory nature of their relationship is quite horrific especially the intimate moments.

Watching these actors stretch their acting abilities is quite amazing. Matt Damon gives an intense dramatic performance. He looks younger than of late even if a bit older than the character he is playing. Michael Douglas usually doesn't do biopics so it's fascinating to see him act as someone else instead of a fictional character. He does a good job suggesting Liberace without overacting getting his voice and mannerisms while not being too campy. Watch out for the supporting cast too especially an unrecognizable Debbie Reynolds as Liberace's mother and Rob Lowe - hilarious as an amphetamine pushing doctor from hell.

The makeup is good transforming them into the characters and through their weight and plastic surgery changes. The mansions, cars, pianos and flamboyant shows are all there. Impressive for a TV movie. Well done Sodebergh. Deserves an Emmy or Golden Globe.

"Behind the Candelabra" is a 2013 biographical drama directed by Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Ocean's Eleven).

It tells the story of Scott Thorson (Matt Damon), a young man working in a movie, who with the help of a producer gets to know Liberace (Michael Douglas), a famous pianist. Once they find out that they both share the same loneliness the two begin a secret relationship.

The movie really exceeded my expectations, it would've been nice to see this in theaters, it might have even been very successful. It was pretty fun for a biographical movie, I was expecting something more serious and dramatic, but instead its an incredibly entertaining movie.

About Soderbergh, I have become very interested in his career, I really hope he doesn't retire, he's one of the few directors who approach his work with passion. By the way, how nice of him to wait for Michael Douglas to finish his treatment for throat cancer to begin filming, which regarding his performance, was definitely worth it. Matt Damon is great in it too. They both made the romance believable and they both had their funny moments.

I'd recommend it to people who liked "Goodfellas", "The Intouchables", "The Social Network", or "Monster".