BEHIND THE CANDELABRA
Director : Steven Soderbergh
Year : 2013
Genre : Biopic/Comedy
Rating : ****
For the past 3 decades, Steven Soderbergh has continued to be one of the most prolific and successful directors in the world and since 1986 his movies have been commercial and critical hits. In 2012, it was announced that he would be retiring from directing to concentrate on a career in art, so it is fitting that his final film 'Behind The Candelabra' is also one of his absolute best. Based on the book 'Behind The Candelabra : My Life With Liberace' by Scott Thorson, the movie tells the story of the last ten years of the life of the world famous entertainer Liberace and his secret love affair with a young vet. Starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, the film is a hilarious and insightful biopic about one of the most influential and popular entertainers of all time. Not afraid to point out his faults as well as his strengths, Soderbergh manages to create a drama that is both funny but strangely tragic and with the help of a stunning performance by Michael Douglas, 'Behind The Candelabra' could be a contender for Best Picture at the Golden Globes next year.
Set in late 1970's, Matt Damon plays Scott Thorson, a young animal trainer who is introduced to the flamboyant entertainer Liberace played by Michael Douglas and soon finds himself in a romantic relationship with the legendary pianist. Surrounded in money, glamour and celebrity, Scott and Liberace have a long torrid love affair, one that Thorson eventually find overwhelmingly suffocating. Cut off from the outside world and cocooned in a decadent lifestyle, he begins to rebel and 'Behind The Candelabra' then traces the aftermath of the breakdown of the relationship, the subsequent court case and Liberace's tragic death from AIDS in 1987.
I for one am very sad to hear of the retirement of Steven Soderbergh. For years, his movies have entertained me and I consider much of his work to be some of the best ever created. He has a fantastic ability to direct a wide range of genres; whether a science fiction, a horror or a comedy, Soderbergh manages to throw himself into the conventions, subtexts and tropes that make the respective genres work so well. In the case of 'Behind The Candelabra', he manages to turn the traditional music biopic into something so much more than the regular paint by numbers true life tale full of triumph and tragedy that we have all seen before. The problem with many biopics is that they fail to expand the characters beyond the trivia and knowledge we know about them, meaning that we only end up waiting for the main events that made them so famous in the first place. However, 'Behind The Candelabra' develops it's characters depicted beyond their most basic points, allowing us entry into their thoughts and ideologies. This is mostly due to the fact that the film is based on the actual memoirs of Scott Thorson rather than a biography written years after Liberace's death so the emotion, joy and tragedy that we are meant to feel is that much more powerful. Due to the intimacy of the script and the openness of the subject matter, we are allowed entry into a world that the press could only dream of; the private life of one of the enigmatic and secretive stars of all time.
I for one am very sad to hear of the retirement of Steven Soderbergh. For years, his movies have entertained me and I consider much of his work to be some of the best ever created. He has a fantastic ability to direct a wide range of genres; whether a science fiction, a horror or a comedy, Soderbergh manages to throw himself into the conventions, subtexts and tropes that make the respective genres work so well. In the case of 'Behind The Candelabra', he manages to turn the traditional music biopic into something so much more than the regular paint by numbers true life tale full of triumph and tragedy that we have all seen before. The problem with many biopics is that they fail to expand the characters beyond the trivia and knowledge we know about them, meaning that we only end up waiting for the main events that made them so famous in the first place. However, 'Behind The Candelabra' develops it's characters depicted beyond their most basic points, allowing us entry into their thoughts and ideologies. This is mostly due to the fact that the film is based on the actual memoirs of Scott Thorson rather than a biography written years after Liberace's death so the emotion, joy and tragedy that we are meant to feel is that much more powerful. Due to the intimacy of the script and the openness of the subject matter, we are allowed entry into a world that the press could only dream of; the private life of one of the enigmatic and secretive stars of all time.
Michael Douglas is just perfect as the flamboyant Liberace, whose on stage persona completely contrasts that of his private persona. Bringing both a vulnerability and blind optimism to the great performer, Douglas manages to crack the shell of Liberace and explore his thoughts, values and personality. It is very brave for a star of Douglas' stature to take such a daring role which could have easily backfired. However, the combination of a great performance, pitch perfect direction and a well written screenplay all add up to create an extremely memorable and noble representation of Liberace's life. Since his death, Liberace has been the target of ridicule due to the fact that he was so flamboyantly homosexual and Soderbergh or Douglas isn't afraid to show this; there are numerous scenes showing gay sexual acts and an awful amount of mincing. But with a huge dose of conviction and a small dose of horseplay, Douglas brings both a playful and deadly serious persona to his character.
Matt Damon is also brilliant as the young animal trainer who is swept into the world of Liberace. Hopefully, the boring typecasting that has dogged the actor since his Jason Bourne days is over and maybe this performance will earn Mr. Damon a Golden Globe nomination. Whereas Douglas is the flamboyant star whose personality could be seen as over the top, Damon is the anchor of the film that brings both the everyday realism and star struck persona of anyone caught in his position. Swept up in a whirlwind of fame, sex and decadence, he is completely sideswiped by the change of lifestyle and through excellent body language and the help of the brilliantly wry but relatable script, Damon brings much more to the character than any regular TV actor could have. He and Michael Douglas work fantastically well as a pair and watching them argue is like watching an old married couple. It is a joy to see both actors having such fun in their roles, but still manage to be personable and completely grounded in reality. In the hands of any other director, the characters may have been become basic gay stereotypes that could have offended Liberace's memory and mocked the love the couple blatantly felt for each other. But Soderbergh pulls back the performances and allows the script and body language to tell most of the story and as far as casting goes, he couldn't have made better choices.
As mentioned earlier, Soderbergh isn't afraid to show the negatives of Liberace and throughout the film we go from liking to disliking him. This isn't due to his personality or his characterisation per se, but it is that his needs, wants and values are so extravagant and unbelievably self centred that we almost think that he only cares about himself, even when he is buying his lover millions of dollars worth of stuff, we feel that there is an ulterior motive. At one point, Thorson even has to get plastic surgery against his own free will to make Liberace happy and this extraordinary usurpation of body and mind is awkwardly uncomfortable. He also portrays self grandeur and a big headedness that could seem very vain indeed. But in the hands of Douglas, Liberace is painted as a man who is proud of his work and doesn't feel any shame in flaunting his pride to anyone who comes into contact with him. Of course, 'Behind The Candelabra' is a comedy and there are many, many scenes which are hilarious and joyful, but there are also moments of pathos, selfishness and tragedy and these are the moments that push the film from generic biopic to something truly special. It is a portrait of a relationship; one that is fraught with the same problems, decisions and arguments that dog any normal couple. It is the added element of extreme vanity and greedy, selfish tendencies that make the film so exciting and fun to watch.
As well as the relationship side of the story, we also get the scenes of Liberace doing what Liberace did best; being a consummate showman. For the part, Douglas had to learn the piano and in both his performance, Soderbergh's direction and the smart editing, I truly believed that Michael Douglas was playing the instrument just like the virtuoso did himself. Also bringing the wit and glamour of Liberace to the stage, Douglas captures the magic and entertainment of the icon that would eventually influence some of the greatest musicians of all time, including someone called Freddie Mercury. Yeah, I've never heard of him either. But while I do enjoy these scenes immensely, it is the relationship between Liberace and Scott Thorson that is the real meat of 'Behind The Candelabra'.
For fans of Liberace, you have probably already seen the film. But if you haven't, it is a brilliant representation of possibly the greatest entertainer who ever lived. For everyone else, it is a brilliantly acted film that marks the closing of an extraordinary career. I can't imagine we will see the likes of Steven Soderbergh again and to me, he couldn't have ended his directing career on a better note. Sure to feature at next years Golden Globes, 'Behind The Candelabra' is a film that is going to be remembered for more reason than one.
FOR ALL THOSE INTERESTED IN THE
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HELP FUND THE RELEASE OF THEIR BRILLIANT DEBUT ALBUM 'NEUROTICA : A COMPENDIUM
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