Behind The Candelabra (2013)

The film opens in 1977 when a young teenaged animal trainer (Matt Damon) is taken to meet the famous entertainer Liberace (Michael Douglas) by a friend (Scott Bakula). Liberace takes a fancy to the young boy and they soon become lovers. But it is a tempestuous relationship. Based on the non fiction book by Scott Thorson (played in the film by Damon) and directed by Steven Soderbergh (SEX LIES AND VIDEOTAPE). It's an engrossing movie bio with a slightly different perspective that casts an unflinching eye on the gay lifestyle in the late 70s and early 80s (BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY could have used some of CANDELABRA's rawness). The film doesn't try to whitewash either Liberace or Scott Thorson and neither are unsympathetic as the warts and all film lets us see the loneliness of each that binds them together. I admire Douglas' performance more than I like it. I give him props for his willingness to go all the way but he can never quite manage to shake off the sense that he's giving an imitation of Liberace rather than inhabiting him. Which allows Damon to take over the film and he's very good. With Debbie Reynolds, unrecognizable as Liberace's mother, Dan Aykroyd, Rob Lowe, Paul Reiser and Cheyenne Jackson.