‎Behind the Candelabra (2013) directed by Steven Soderbergh • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd

Behind the Candelabra

2013 Directed by Steven Soderbergh

Too much of a good thing is wonderful

Based on the autobiographical novel, the tempestuous 6-year relationship between Liberace and his (much younger) lover, Scott Thorson, is recounted.

Michael Douglas Matt Damon Rob Lowe Dan Aykroyd Scott Bakula Debbie Reynolds Cheyenne Jackson Paul Reiser Boyd Holbrook Nicky Katt Eddie Jemison Mike O'Malley Josh Meyers David Koechner Krystal Ellsworth Lisa Frantz Austin Stowell Eric Zuckerman Randy Lowell Tom Roach Shamus Cooley John Smutny Jane Morris Garrett M. Brown Pat Asanti Casey Kramer Tom Papa James Kulick Bruce Ramsay Show All…

118 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Hollie Horror ★★★½ 9

In this episode of Quantum Leap Dr. Sam Beckett leaps into the life of Bob Black, a procurer of young men for Liberace.
Review by Adam Cook ★★★½ 11

If Steven Soderbergh really has retired from making feature films he leaves on a high, first with the twisty pharmaceutical thriller, Side Effects, and now with this made-for-TV Liberace biopic. It’s quite a double-punch swansong that demonstrates his versatility and ability to coax great performances out of his actors. Based on Scott Thorston’s account of his six-year relationship with famed pianist, Liberace, Behind the Candelabra, reveals the not-so hidden life of one of the world’s most flamboyant performers.

Although it is a shame Soderbergh had to turn to the more adventurous HBO to finally get his long in gestation biopic made (it is hard to know quite what the studios were so worried about) little appears lost in the transition…
Review by Paul Robinson ★★★★ 5

The film deemed to gay for Hollywood even after the much loved Brokeback Mountain is a great picture, and will continue to show my pleas to Steven Soderbergh to not give up on Cinema so we don’t lose one of the most entertaining and unique eyes in film. Though his contributions to T.V. will be something everyone should be excited for.

Behind the Candelabra the story of Pianist Liberace played terrifically by Michael Douglas and his relationship with a much younger man Scott Thorson played by Matt Damon. A film I was expecting to be way over the top and become a camp act much like Liberace’s real life stage show. But this is a warts and all story of…
Review by TajLV ★★★★ 2

No studio wanted to produce this. Director Steven Soderbergh first mentioned the project idea to Michael Douglas during the filming of Traffic in 2000, but the powers of cinemadom judged the story "too gay to be commercial," so it languished in need of backing till HBO finally took a gamble on it as a made-for-TV movie. Two Golden Globes and eleven Primetime Emmy Awards later, Soderbergh's vision is complete, and the tale of the last decade in the life of the world's most extravagant piano-playing showman has been told, masterfully.

When I first heard Douglas was going to play Liberace, I thought to myself, "No way! The guy who made it with Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct? The guy who's…
Review by I.V. ★★★★

Soderbergh does Fassbinder, essentially.

Jonathan Rosenbaum on Fox and His Friends: "At one point the camera is even stationed on a floor a moment before the hapless hero slips and falls, in sadistic anticipation of his mishap. As with much of Fassbinder's work, his cruelty complicates rather than negates his mordant, on-target social analysis." That's pretty much this movie in a nutshell.
Review by Jake Kwiatkowski ★★★★★ 4

This is it. This is peak Soderbergh. I will be in absolute awe if I find another one of his movies topping this one. I'm wholly convinced Steven Soderbergh is one of the greatest to ever do it.

Recent reviews

Review by love, audrey ★★★★★

ACTING!!!!!!

Also that wig isn’t doing Matt Damon’s 40 year old ass any favors like he ain’t a hunky 20 yo but that’s okay cuz we stan forever
Review by Zack ★★★★½

Matt Damon in this movie portraying a 20 year old when he’s like 40: how do you do fellow kids
Review by Mark Allen ★★★★

Michael Douglas' most understated, nuanced performance since THE GAME.
Review by Kevin Matthews ★★★★

In some ways this is a fairly standard kind of biopic from Steven Soderbergh, but it is elevated by the fact that a) it's about Liberace and b) it has a fantastic lead performance from Michael Douglas, and very good turns from Matt Damon, Rob Lowe, and others. Odd, entertaining, and surprisingly touching on a couple of occasions.
Review by Marc

Ma vie avec Liberace
Review by Paul Farrell ★★★

Rob Lowe squinting through the botox while performing a rhinoplasty is Extremely My Shit™
Review by Declan ★★★★

Jeez. There is a lot of good foreshadowing here. I am not sure if I can understand the story if I can't understand the reason why a diary was released so soon after Liberace's death. Even so, this film isn't too bad. I can't believe this was actually a Palme D'Or entry.
Review by Alex Leadbeater ★★★★

A TV movie... but a well-directed TV movie.
Review by GrammyboyXD ★★½

A standard biopic about the relationship between Liberace and Scott. Kinda dull throughout to be honest as there wasn’t any conflict until the last act when Scott got replaced. Unremarkable and completely forgettable, though it was able to keep my watching...