BEHIND THE CANDELABRA! What did you think?- Page 3

[all that jazz]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 6:53pm

I've already seen it twice.

Soderbergh needs to direct a full blown musical!

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 6:56pm

I couldn't take that film seriously. As I said, it teeter tottered on the brink. It could have gone one way and been serious, or the other way and gone camp.

If the writing was better, I could feel something more for Lee besides just observing that he was lonely. I wish I felt something about their relationship. Instead, what I saw was filthy rich flamboyant Liberace who buys one lover after the next, when he's tired of them or meets a new one.

Thornsen was there at the right time. He needed a change and how could he resist the lifestyle offered to him? And then he was the one on the way out.

I think there was enough material in that story to make it more than what I just mentioned, but it didn't work for me. I didn't get emotionally involved at all.

Too bad because I think the acting is exemplary and I do hope they are rewarded for it.

[kooky]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 7:23pm

I was UNDERWHELMED .....

[Popular]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 7:38pm

I didn't get to watch it. But I enjoyed my dad's review... "there was a lot of shtooping" LOL

[StockardFan]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 8:24pm

I have free HBO for the weekend and was hoping to record it tonight. The only thing I see that might be it, says "Adult Title" on the Guide. Does anyone else have Verizon FIOS? Is that it?

[Kad]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 8:45pm

The film also gave us this camptastic line.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 8:54pm

YES!!! I fell out when he said that! Such a great scene!

[John Adams]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 9:00pm

I didn't care for it. I agree with:

> I couldn't take that film seriously. As I said, it teeter tottered on the brink. It could have gone one way and been serious, or the other way and gone camp.

I thought Michael Douglas was too afraid of the kissing scenes. He did the kind of "stage kisses" we used to do in Junior High plays (where you turn your head to "cover", and then kiss anywhere but on the lips) in his first scenes.

In Matt Damon's first "butt" scene (getting out of the hot tub), Douglas averts his gaze as if Damon weren't even there. Completely unrealistic for a character the movie keeps insisting is a complete horn dog. If it were me, my eyes would be glued to his package as he stands up in the tub - it's MATT "F*cking" DAMON (to quote Sarah Silverman and Jimmy Kimmel)!!

ALL of the characters were more caricature than believable. Rob Lowe's plastic surgeon was sooooooo hyper exaggerated that he bore absolutely no resemblance to the real man, who was actually more on the handsome side:

When the make-up is that far from reality, what should I think about the characterization? (EDIT: that "thing" they put on Michael Douglas' head in his first bald scene, in the bathroom was horrendous - especially the first time Douglas turned his head to profile...)

But maybe that's what Soderberg was trying to do; to let us know that we shouldn't take Scott Thorson's book too seriously. My problem though is in reading all the comments here by folks who LOVED the movie and thought its characters and the acting were "real".

Something's not right. Either Soderberg, Lowe, or I didn't get this movie right. Maybe all three of us got it wrong.

I enjoyed watching Liberace's last public appearance on Oprah much, much better. That was the real "Mr. Showbiz". (Is that an oxymoron?) It was filmed in November, but aired on Christmas Day, 1986, about a month before he died.

Liberace on OPRAH 3 Months Before He Died Updated On: 5/27/13 at 09:00 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 9:17pm

Wow John Adams. I didn't see any of that at all. I thought MD was wonderful and totally believable in the kissing scenes. So much so that it was no big deal. And I thought all the characters were believable. Don't know what you are talking about regarding Douglas averting his gaze. Almost sounds like you were just looking not to like things. But.. to each his own. I thought all actors went for it. Loved them all in it.

Updated On: 5/27/13 at 09:17 PM

[John Adams]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 9:22pm

>> Don't know what you are talking about regarding Douglas averting his gaze.

He's looking at his own feet! (How'd you miss that???)
And you think Rob Lowes's characterization and make-up were real? Did 'ya see the picture?

hmmmmmmmm.....

[BWFan101]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 9:30pm

John Adams -- I thought the exact same thing about the "nude" scene! I think even a straight man would have to look.

That being said, I'm not a Michael Douglas fan, but I liked him in this.

I wonder how much of the story is true?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 9:33pm

The real story of the real Scott Thorson is even more unbelievable than the story depicted in the movie.


Scott Thorson on stage with Liberace in Las Vegas in 1979.







Mr. Thorson during a videophone interview at the Washoe County jail in Reno, Nev.
NY Times: The Boy Toy’s Story

[all that jazz]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 9:42pm

But, John, don't you think the reason for him not looking was to not scare him away, as Scott looks very naive and a bit uncomfortable in the scene.

Updated On: 5/27/13 at 09:42 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 9:47pm

No eyes averted in this scene.



I would say Matt's thighs and lips were welcomed by Michael Douglas with open arms.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 9:54pm

Ah forget those two. I want to have Scott "Bob Black" Bakula's bambinos del buttocks.

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 10:10pm

John, I noticed the exact same thing with the averting the gaze. Each time it happened, I thought, oh, they don't want to portray him as wanting sex from this guy.

It was so unrealistic.

[John Adams]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 10:13pm

>> But, John, don't you think the reason for him not looking was to not scare him away, as Scott looks very naive and a bit uncomfortable in the scene.

...but Scott's not uncomfortable enough to grab that towel (which is in arm's reach) to hide himself before he stands up.

You don't have to take my word for this, but if you find yourself in a similar situation, please don't look at your feet. That will only make the person know that you are just as uncomfortable as they are.

Look them in the face (preferably the eyes). ...and allow them to meet your gaze comfortably.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 10:14pm

I feel I've been watching a different movie than some of you on this board. It is what it is.

[John Adams]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 10:26pm

>> Ah forget those two. I want to have Scott "Bob Black" Bakula's bambinos del buttocks.

Yes, please! I'd be happy to nestle into his chest, too while he sings, "Moonlight Passing Through A Window" in my ear. Updated On: 5/27/13 at 10:26 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 10:49pm

Oh, John, we're peas in a pod.

[DAME]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 11:52pm

Oh a Scott Bakula chest is all I need as well.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 11:55pm

At first Bakula was kept in these medium shots and I didn't know it was him but wondered how they got "Lifeguard"-era Sam Elliot in the movie.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/28/13 at 12:18am

See, I saw the averting of the gaze to be extremely deliberate on the part of Douglas in his depiction of Liberace. You're right, Jane, in a way: Liberace was not wanting to depict himself as wanting sex from him. It's not unrealistic at all. It's being coy. It's putting on a facade of modesty.

Besides- they show him bottoming and doing poppers not twenty minutes after that scene. It wasn't a question of not fully embracing Liberace's sexuality, in my opinion. It was about showing him as Mr. Showmanship, even in his seduction.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 5/28/13 at 12:48am

I didn't read as much into it as some of you. I thought it was good. I thought the make up was amazing and the Matt Damon did a great job.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/28/13 at 4:39am

I seriously loved this film. It was wonderful, and I will definitely be watching it again.