The gaudy, surprising bio-pic “Behind the Candelabra” (HBO, 9 p.m.) is worth watching for a number of reasons.
There’s the audacious but sort of perfect casting of Michael Douglas as Liberace, with Matt Damon as his boy toy. Then there’s all kind of supporting cast members, the scariest of which is Rob Lowe who as a plastic surgeon has one of the most extreme faces himself; unrecognizable, though, is Debbie Reynolds as Liberace’s beloved mother.
The rather straightforward “Candelabra” is also notable for being one of the final films of the inventive Steven Soderbergh (if he indeed lives up to his vow to give up directing). But all over the expensive film is the hand of old Hollywood with its producer Jerry Weintraub.
Being reminded of the restrictions of recent history is always instructive; as when the overly flamboyant entertainer regularly sued publications who hinted he was gay. Women loved him whatever he did, and there is a case being made of Liberace being the first made for TV idol. His approach to stage spectacle likely led to how concerts are staged today — and the excesses of Las Vegas in general. But it’s surprising just how forgotten a figure Liberace is in the popular culture.
“Behind the Candelabra” won’t resurrect that image — he seems, overall, to have been a horrible person. But it may help remind people to look up all of what he did.