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Sorry, this movie sucks

Redundant and unnecessary.

Best movie ever!

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

The final film before Soderbergh's retirement...oh wait, he's still making more films? Retirement spent well! Hollywood initially rejected this due to the content "being too gay for mainstream audiences" and so Soderbergh released this to TV stations instead. I for one am glad he went ahead and completed the project. Depicting the lavish lifestyle of Liberace, he recruits a younger fellow named Scott and illustrates the idolising yet spiky relationship between the two of them. If you didn't know who Liberace was, well where have you been hiding? Arguably the most famous entertainer of the late 70's having sold out a multitude of shows with his extraordinary piano playing skills. This biopic depicts the last ten years of his life and the illusory world of fame. Soderbergh consistently focused on both the physically and emotional relationship between these two men and how it rapidly deteriorates from boredom. Liberace wanted to see multiple younger guys and Scott succumbed to drug abuse, thus conveying the exertion of energy that was required to maintain this relationship. There's also themes of vanity, pride and jealousy throughout which come together to create a balanced perspective into Liberace's life. Douglas gives probably his best performance of his career as the central character. He absolutely nailed the campy mannerisms of Liberace and remained fearless during the more sexual scenes. Damon also gives a terrific performance as a young man falling for his idol and willing to do anything for him. It came across as helpless rather than obsessive which indicates the strength of his love for him. My major issue is with the tone. The flamboyancy of this production detracts from the emotional involvement of these characters. I felt disconnected and didn't really feel much during the more emotionally powerful scenes. The glossy veil was just too thick which prevented me from looking through it. Also the runtime felt abit extensive at two hours. However, it's certainly a gay ol' time.

This uncompromising backstage dramatisation of the turbulent relationship between celebrity pianist Liberace and his much younger lover Scott Thorson was a compelling watch. As I watched it, it took a little time for me to get over the sight of Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, two celebrated uber-masculine action heroes playing such camp characters plus their over-familiarity as stars if anything detracts from identification with their parts here but the fact that both absolutely throw themselves into their roles saw them convince me in the end.Liberace in real-life conducted himself as a family favourite, particularly with his female audience, playing popular piano pieces in cabaret and projecting a debonair if very camp image, on and off-stage, owning the inevitable L.A. mansion, with a grand piano in every room, innumerable fancy cars and of course his elaborate rhinestone-heavy stage costumes. Behind this facade however was a ruthless businessman, determined to preserve his self-image (woe betide the publication which levelled charges of homosexuality at him), in addition a controlling and sexually voracious individual who attended male-only brothels, watched hard-core gay porn and groomed young male wannabes into becoming his latest playmate. Douglas is excellent at portraying his character's at the same time compelling but repellant nature, flaunting his squeaky-clean image in public while living a life of decadent sleaze after hours.Into his orbit comes a young blonde bisexual country boy called Scott Thorson who very soon supersedes Liberace's then live-in boyfriend, attracted by the older man's charm, riches and power until too late he realises that he's being made over in his lover-employer's image and developing a drug addiction in the process. The power struggle between the two is fascinating to watch even if it is of course heavily slanted in Liberace's favour. The question here really is did Liberace corrupt and waste a young innocent's life or was Thorson a willing participant in the gravy train, happy to go along with it from the start.Director Siderburgh I think tends to the former viewpoint, although it's clear that Thorson is no angel himself. On the other hand, Liberace too is no one-dimensional character and it is the older man who calls up the younger as he nears his end from AIDS, fondly remembering their earlier happy times.I like this ambivalence, allowing the viewer to come to their own judgement on this particular lifestyle of the rich and famous. No corner is cut in exhibiting the pianist's excessive lifestyle although I was grateful that the love scenes between the two, although not ignored, was toned down somewhat for easier consumption. The acting is excellent, especially by the two big-name leads while Rob Lowe steals his scenes with a centre- parting like the Red Sea as a creepy plastic surgeon.I'm not surprised this film received so many Emmy plaudits and commend the director and cast for taking on a tricky subject and delivering such compelling viewing.

When this movie first premiered on the HBO channel I watched it not knowing what it was going to be about. As soon as I saw Liberace I thought maybe it will be about how good a pianist he was....I was in for a shock when they showed his relationship with Scott thorson. I had know of Liberace as he played my favorite rendition of the Tchaikovsky concerto in b flat minor but other than that I hadn't bothered to search his history. Throughout the movie it would keep you appealed to all the glamor and grandeur with the struggles and cheating. Throughout the story it progresses from the late 70's to the mid 80's and the story ends with Liberaces "controversial" death from the AIDs virus. The ending, to me, is one of the best final scenes in a movie. I won't spoil it you'll just have to go see for yourself. I still watch the film every now and then just to look and at the shiny crystals and such.

a missed opportunity for a film. the true story is that a 57 year old man takes a 17 year old boy to bed, takes him into his home, well his mansion, no less, introduces him to drugs, bullies him into plastic surgery to make him look like himself, and soderbergh decides to give us this piece of fluffy nonsense! its extraordinary. the material is the stuff of horror and this light hearted puff of hum dee hah is the result. is no one else more outraged by the abuse of a 17 year old boy? has the world truly lost its moral compass to such an extent? the idea that a 42 year matt damon should play scott as a 17 year old and fail to tell the real story is wrong. am i really the only person amazed by this? i give this 4 because the film carries a story and it is well acted, it just isn't the film that it should be.