Behind the Candelabra

Behind the Candelabra is a Home Box Office movie about the estranged life of Liberace. Liberace was portrayed in the movie as a man lost in his own world of sexual deviancy, and denial of his own sexuality. The movie is flawed, and this is why I am recommending it from a different critical lens.

If you believe the movie version of the life of Liberace, there was not much to admire. He was self-absorbed and used men repeatedly until he grew tired of them. His lavish lifestyle was repugnant. He enjoyed a lifestyle that glamorized wealth. He lived in a den of lies. People were not friends, they were acquaintances. His manager's role was to ensure this lifestyle went on uninterrupted, as best he could throughout Liberace's career.

Whether this was true or not, it is how the movie was delivered. That's the key to watching the movie. First, the stars portraying all the major roles are heterosexual. Scott Bakula, Michael Douglas, and Matt Damon headline the movie. This demonstrates HBO's motivation was profit, and not to help us understand the complexity of Liberace. Having these 3 actors play the roles is similar to Al Jolson wearing black face to portray African-Americans in the 1920s.

Do we really need heterosexual stars to relay the story of Liberace? How ironic when you think about the era that the movie is set in. The late 70s and 80s when gays were ostracized for seeking medical care for HIV. It is a slap in the face to ask the audience to sincerely reflect upon this time, when the main characters lack the depth themselves to understand the problem. Watching Damon and Douglas feels uncomfortable. Where they acting or perpetuating a stereotype? It is kind of surprising especially from Damon, who is the first to advocate for such causes of decency.

So why recommend the movie? Watch the movie and realize what was lost in opportunity. The director should have given insight into root cause and effect. Liberace was bullied as a child. He was chased by tabloids long before the movie suggests. (Dating back to his first lawsuit in the 1950s) This form of harassment was the reason for the lies and deceit. He had to protect his assets by pretending to be a heterosexual. This was the reason for his behavior. This was a lost opportunity. Instead, the movie choose to have a Wolf on Wall Street approach to telling the story.

Liberace was a complicated part of Hollywood history. The movie demonstrates that Hollywood still has a way to go regarding civil rights for people who are in the LGBTQ community. Low pay and and underground cinema are still the norm. When Hollywood casts stars like Damon and Douglas to tell a story, they send a message that gay men were not good enough to play the roles. In a sense, the story of Liberace is showcased by the discrimination in castings. Make millions by keeping a secret, or come out and have Matt Damon make the millions for you. That's why this movie is so powerful.