Review of Behind the Candelabra (2013) by Charlie T — 17 Oct 2014
A very visual cocktail with a little drop of poison. So much Fur carpet sleaze, you can almost smell the dogshit. Michael Douglas is unrecognisable from his most common role as the representative of the everyman in the capitalist model. Surrounded by poodles, wigs and dildos, he delivers a faithful, sun stroked representation of all the things we left behind from the 70's.
The film plays you like a piano. There is something quite relatable in Liberace's need to entertain, that is particularly relevant in our culture of "selfies" and hashtags. Matt Damon as the ultimately lost, withdrawn farm boy serves as the representation of the viewer, delivering an engaging performance under the influence of a heady mix of narcotics. This is a film that feels wrong to review sober. a film to readjust your wig to.
An excess of glitter and gold. As Liberace's himself stated "Too much of a good thing is wonderful" this film is a tribute to the man's central ethos. You'll be glad you saw it and glad you paid for it.
This review of Behind the Candelabra (2013) was written by Charlie T on 17 Oct 2014.
Behind the Candelabra has generally received mixed reviews.
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