Review of Behind the Candelabra (2013) by Steven M — 05 Aug 2013
Side Effects (2013) might have been Steven Soderbergh's last theatrical release, but international audiences get to see this HBO biopic in cinemas. Based upon the tell-all 1988 memoir by Scott Thorson.
It's certainly a glitzy, over the top biopic, but it has two brilliant performances at it's core, and it shows the excesses of celebrity culture. In 1977, animal trainer Scott Thorson (Matt Damon) through producer friend Bob Black (Scott Bakula) gets to meet pianist and showman Liberace (Michael Douglas), who takes an instant liking to Scott.
After Scott treats one of Liberace's dogs, Scott is employed as one of Liberace's "assistants", although they end up becoming homosexual lovers, and Liberace even adopts Scott as his own "son".
But, after Liberace tries to make Scott look more like him, and Liberace starts seeing other "assistants", Scott grows jealous and he descends into a nasty drugs habit, forcing a wedge between himself and the man who gave him everything.
It looks like a biopic, but underneath, it's a blackly comic morality tale about the absolute corruption of absolute excess. Douglas is brilliant as Liberace, and you wouldn't have thought of him in that part, but it's absolutely inspired.
It's blessed with glitz and glamour, and a nice score by the late, great Marvin Hamlisch.
This review of Behind the Candelabra (2013) was written by Steven M on 05 Aug 2013.
Behind the Candelabra has generally received mixed reviews.
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