Movie: Behind the Candelabra

This was always going to be intriguing, if only for Michael Douglas’ performance in the lead role. However, we know the story of Liberace is going to be a colourful one but tinged with sadness.We learn early that Liberace (or Walter to his Mum) is insecure, as is often the case for tortured artists, which is perhaps one of the reasons there is a succession of lovers – or personal assistants, trainers etc - each one getting younger as he gets older and more plasticised. He has a dedicated team on his payroll that will do whatever it takes to keep their star happy and no sooner do the boyfriends get swept up in the lavish life, we are lead to believe they are replaced on the payroll.This story is told through the eyes of one of these, Scott Thorson, just a teen when he met the 47-year-old classical pianist and sadly never capitalised on his life with wealthy Liberace but instead, their relationship ended with the help of the courts. At one time, bizarrely, Liberace was looking at adopting him so he was always part of his life and was financially taken care of in the long-term. Even crazier, he paid for his protégé to have plastic surgery to look like himself! Talking of which, Rob Lowe steals the scenes as the plastic surgeon/drug pusher, who himself seemed to have a face constructed for this purpose by Michael Jackson’s surgeon, complete with the longer hair!It’s odd to learn that Liberace never ‘came out’ when we all knew he was gay. There was a certain part of the world, i.e. most of his pearl wearing, blue-rinsed audience who that he was just, extravagant, shall we say.A good watch, explicit when it needs to be, funny often but mostly marked with sadness.7½/10Smile factor 7/10Coffee Rating: Macchiato