For all the weirdness and “blimey
did he really wear/do that” this Liberace biopic has the undercurrent of the
usual human frailties – fear of being alone, self-loathing and insecurity.
It
goes without saying that Michael Douglas delivers a fabulous “Lee” with frankness
of both sexuality and physicality. He does competent camp and better bitter.
But, in what is essentially a double-header, its Matt Damon’s film. With the
more unsympathetic role he is the prism by which we view Liberace’s world and
so his range of reaction needs to both reflect and challenge our own. That he
spends half the movie seemingly unable to move most of his face because of the
wonderful Rob Lowe’s surgery handiwork makes the realisation of the performance
all the more impressive.
So we get a movie that takes
us to the dark heart of human (not just gay) relationships dressed in furs and
diamanté. It hits all the marks. Whilst you might not have wanted to be in
their company at the time, these expressionless queens make a couple of hours
rattle past.
8/10
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