‎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 catcarlo ★★★★

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

Dietro i candelabri

Regista dalla carriera saltabeccante, Soderbergh si lascia volentieri andare ad azzardi che non sempre è ben capace di padroneggiare. In questo caso, però, la sfida può dirsi vinta: non era certo semplice mettere in immagini la sceneggiatura di Richard LaGravenese tratta dalle memorie di Scott Thorson sul rapporto tra quest’ultimo e Liberace, a partire dalle idee preconcette che possono azzoppare una progetto simile. Pur in un periodo di outing diffusi (e qualche anno dopo ‘I segreti di Brokeback Mountain’), nessuno negli Stati Uniti ha voluto produrre il film tranne la rete via cavo HBO – e difatti imdb lo cataloga come ‘TV Movie’ – con la conseguenza che la distribuzione in sala è stata riservata al resto…
Review by VoodooSan ½

Holy shit. This movie is so gross. Liberace is a god damn pedophile. Despite the great performances of Matt Damon and Michael Douglas this movie is just disgusting.

The only thing this film was missing was gloryholes.
Review by Richmondhill ★★★★

Coherent compaction of all you could possibly wish to know about life in the glittering closet. Douglas and Damon turn in trump-card performances in a solidly realised and densely detailed film. I don't know if television is a wasted opportunity, but this certainly had the better treatment here in Europe with a small cinematic release.
Review by Caprice Castano ★★★

Sparkles on sparkles
Review by weehunk ★★

Two famous actors play 'Truth or Dare'. He grabbed him in the biscuits!
Review by Jessica ★★★½

This is movie #12 of the Queer Film Challenge. My knowledge of Liberace was basically just he was gay, he played piano, and I think one of his dogs is in the museum of death in Hollywood...so this was all new to me. Pretty batshit story, and wow did Michael Douglas do an insane impression. He also had the great ability to show a man who was so charming and constantly acting as if he was on a stage.
Review by christinarules ★★★★½

This is fantastic! Michael Douglas and Matt Damon being gay together? What a blast!
Review by Shrimpsmann ★★★★½

Michael Douglas spielt Liberace und macht das hervorragend. Absolut großartige Performance. Wurde dafür mit Golden Globe und Emmy ausgezeichnet, wäre dem Film ein US-Kinostart vergönnt gewesen hätte das auch ein Oscar statt dem Emmy sein können. Ebenso gut spielt Matt Damon die Rolle des Scott Thorson. Zum weiteren Cast gehören noch u.a. Dan Aykroyd und Rob Lowe, Regie führt Stephen Sonderbergh. Da kann man nicht viel verkehrt machen. Ich schaue Michael Douglas eh sehr gerne und in diesem Film ist er auf höchstem Level unterwegs. Sonderbergh fängt das alles gut ein und der Soundtrack passt ebenso gut.

Die Zeichnung der Privatperson Liberaces, seiner Geheimhaltung der Homosexualität und seine Beziehung zu Thorson ist stark, die Charakterentwicklungen ebenfalls. Natürlich zeigt der Film…
Review by David ★★★★

Solid stuff. Nothing gained from a second viewing.