Decent but far from great

Rating: 7/10 (15 June 2013)

Steven Soderbergh has been a prolific director, making many films the Oceans films, Traffic, Erin Brockovich, Contagion, etc Behind the Candelabra is set to be last film (watch this space), a bio-pic about the pianist Liberace and his relationship with a much younger man, Scott Thorson. Despite being nominated for the Palme d'Or at Cannes and earning a theatrical release in Europe, Behind the Candelabra was considered 'too gay' by Hollywood and was only a TV film in America.
Scott (Matt Damon) is a young bisexual man who wants to become a vet. His friend introduces him to Liberace (Michael Douglas) after a concert and Liberace is a man who gets what he wants. Liberace hires Scott as his personal helper and the two embark on a relationship. But Scott falls for Liberace's manipulations and falls into a world of drugs as the relationship soars.
The best aspect of Behind the Candelabra is cast. The film has a great cast, as well as Damon and Douglas there are there are top actors such as Dan Aykroyd, Scott Bakula and Rob Lowe in supporting roles and there were all strong. But it is the Damon and Douglas show as Damon plays a young man who has a decent personality and gets corrupted by Liberace into a world of drugs and Liberace is made out to be a creepy, manipulative figure during his courting of Scott.
Behind the Candelabra is a thematic film exploring a few ideas. One of them is the corruption of Scott's character from a decent caring man who degrades from his ambition to someone who falls into a world of glamour, drugs and dependence on diet pills. Whilst Liberace is creepy in the way he wheels Scott into his world and the film explore the idea on whether he was looking for a lover or a son/clone/successor: he actually tries physically alter Scott into himself via plastic surgery and Liberace's previous partner who dressed just like him. Liberace is made out to be a very controlling figure, who wants a puppet and if they show any resistance Liberace will ditch them want he finds someone else. Another theme is about Liberace who despite his highly camp persona seems to be very ashamed of his sexuality, hiding it from the public and hiding Scott from the majority of people.
Behind the Candelabra was made with the intend of being a cinematic release, but it did look and feel like a TV film, which is disappointing considering that Soderbergh directed. Soderbergh and his team do try to make a Boogie Nights style film with its frank look at sex, its time period and Scott going through a rise and fall (though he is a smarter character): but there is no flair that Soderbergh is known for and this is film crying out for it. There are some nice little camera movements but on the whole this is a film that plays it very safe with its visuals. Even worst is the slow pace pacing, especially at the end where the film feels like it is going on and on.
Tonally the film starts off a fairly light hearted comic tone with some decent jokes that should raise a smile and chuckle. But as the film processes it turns darker and more serious as we explore this relationship, how Liberace uses Scott and how Scott falls into drug taking. It is a fine procession with the film having its sinister underbelly and gets explored gradually exposed.
As you would expect from a film about Liberace the music is excellent and Marvin Hamlisch does supply an great score to compliment the film.
At the time of this review Behind the Candelabra has a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. But the 7.1/10 rating on IMDb is much more actuate because the film is decent and no more then that.