Friday, 21 June 2013

On Behind the Candelabra


Steven Soderbergh may be retired from film, but thankfully he’s moved into TV and his output remains undiminished. Here is a man capable of telling any story, able to always find the best shot and draw out incredible performances.

An audience member with no knowledge of Liberace will be drawn into this tale of the American dream in Vegas. Matt Damon’s Scott is the small town boy who makes good – earns fame without possessing the talent to do so, a comment on the fast fame path that many reality TV shows promote. While Liberace offers the contrast; he possess a rare talent, yet is a dying breed. Douglas imbues his Liberace with a great sense of mortality while at the same time shows a man still able to own a room.

There is much to admire to in Soderbergh’s made for HBO film and most of these attributes can be found in the several Soderbergh reviews here, but what rises Behind the Candelabra is the two central performances, which are award worthy.  

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