Behind the Candelabra

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Behind the Candelabra

TV-MA,

2013,

1h 58m,

Drama/

Biography/

Romance/

LGBTQ+

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Watchlist

Watchlist

94%

106 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

10,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

106 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

World-famous pianist Liberace (Michael Douglas) takes much-younger Scott Thorson (Matt Damon) as a lover, but the relationship deteriorates when Liberace takes other bedmates and Thorson becomes addicted to drugs.

Critics Consensus

Affectionate without sacrificing honesty, Behind the Candelabra couples award-worthy performances from Michael Douglas and Matt Damon with some typically sharp direction from Steven Soderbergh.

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J. Hoberman

ARTINFO.com

Feb 22, 2019

Although Behind the Candelabra may be Soderbergh's swan song, it's an uncanny resurrection of the creature that was Liberace.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Sep 5, 2018

Yes. It is fabulous. No other word for it, unless that word is "glorious."

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Roger Clarke

Sight & Sound

Apr 4, 2018

Douglas brings a preening, nervous energy to a performance that may well prove to be the best of his career...

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Jason Adams

My New Plaid Pants

Jul 2, 2021

Soderbergh seems most intent on normalizing homosexuality itself, and he does that by zooming straight out to the furthest reaches of stereotype and straining for the banal amongst the golden slippers and snarling houseboys

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Niall Browne

Movies in Focus

Mar 17, 2021

4/5

Behind The Candelabra isn't Soderbergh's flashiest movie, he plays things very 'straight' visually. There are few cinematic flourishes- he knows that the performances are the focus here and he stands back and shoots things so that you are drawn in.

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Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

Feb 28, 2021

There is not much in Behind the Candelabra that explains Liberace's immense appeal to wide sections of the population, including Soderbergh himself.

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Harry S

Apr 11, 2019

Excellent movie and acting, Mike Douglas and Matt Damon are just brilliant I have seen this twice and highly recommend watching, I remember watching Liberace growing up and he was a magnificent performer and talent. Everyone has their struggles and demons in life which both characters express perfectly.

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Hermione L

Jan 15, 2019

Liberace was crazy as hell - but his boy toy was even crazier

Jan 1, 2019

Great Writing: 2 Stars Superbly written and written for the screen. Its only set back is its quick advancement through time. Great Production: 2 Stars A great production, everything was a puzzle piece fitting perfectly in place with moments of cinematography masterwork.

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Ron W

May 1, 2018

when you have a sad face.. Behind The Candelabra The structure of the plot line is exhaustingly similar to any other biography that haunts you for the whole runtime as the work that went behind the stage is admirable. The adaptation is too lose for it to bind each and every episodes of their life that is depicted in here. Steven Sonderbergh is definitely no short on execution but is restrained on going to different places due to a narrow wafer thin script. Michael Douglas and Matt Damon are brilliant in it and is supported nicely by different familiar cameos. Behind The Candelabra is an open love letter by Steven Sonderbergh to the world projected in here that has one and only one strength i.e. stellar performance.

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Ron S

Mar 27, 2018

Great Writing: 2 Stars Superbly written and written for the screen. Its only set back is its quick advancement through time. Great Production: 2 Stars A great production, everything was a puzzle piece fitting perfectly in place with moments of cinematography masterwork.

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Abraham S

Feb 18, 2018

Production 2 of 2.5 A flawless production, everything was a puzzle piece fitting perfectly in place with moments of cinematography masterwork. Writing 2 of 2.5 Superbly written and written for the screen. Its only set back is its quick advancement through time.

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Steven Soderbergh

Director

Michael Douglas

Liberace

Matt Damon

Scott Thorson

Dan Aykroyd

Seymour Heller

Scott Bakula

Bob Black

Rob Lowe

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Synopsis

World-famous pianist Liberace (Michael Douglas) takes much-younger Scott Thorson (Matt Damon) as a lover, but the relationship deteriorates when Liberace takes other bedmates and Thorson becomes addicted to drugs.

Director: Steven Soderbergh
Producer: Gregory Jacobs, Susan Ekins, Michael Polaire
Screenwriter: Richard LaGravenese
Production Co: HBO Films, Jerry Weintraub Productions
Rating: TV-MA (S|L)
Genre: Drama, Biography, Romance, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Runtime: 1h 58m

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