Behind the Candelabra (UR)
"Such a Nice Boy"
Telling the unique story of Scott Thorson, Liberache's secret live-in lover and adopted son, Behind the Candelbra takes us past the sequins and gold plating to the gay men who dominated Las Vegas entertainment while suing anyone who tried to out them as they gallivanted through the American pop culture subconscious.
Played with amazing versatility by Michael Douglas (The Game), Liberace struts and croons and tickles the ivories without distracting or disparaging the king of bling. Matt Damon is the new man in his life Scott, an adopted son with a shaky orphan upbringing who is brought into the glitz and glamour and storm that is living with Liberace. The film is based on Thorson's autobiography, apparently with enough details to make the Marquis de Sade blush. Nothing is out of bounds for the two actors as they explore their onscreen tumultuous affair, further fueled by unlimited wealth, all brought together by the "retiring" director Steven Soderberg (Ocean's Eleven) who brings his cool technical head to bear with delicious exactitude. Apparently too hot for cineplexes, HBO picked it up to much acclaim, and the rich, textured lives of a closeted homosexual virtuoso and his exploited/exploitative ex-son/ex-chauffeur/ex-lover is handled with class while still retaining reality. The three of them (Damon, Douglas and Soderberg) each make up a glittering candlestick of the Candelabra, illuminating the dark of unknown lives forced to live in the shadows despite their world-wide fame.
8 How many Man Butts to get an R out of 10 (GREAT)
Showing posts with label TV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TV. Show all posts
The Late Shift (1996)
The Late Shift (R)
"Therrrrre... goes Johnny!"
HBO pulls back the curtain behind the Letterman vs Leno debacle of 90s late night television and blows up NBCs skirts in the process. Based on the book by media journalist Bill Carter, the insider view into the machinations between Dave, Jay and management are both entertaining and interesting and bring a mostly impartial eye to the proceedings. The actors portraying the stars try their best with somewhat shaky results (the real life David Letterman particularly hated his doppelganger, calling him a "psychotic red haired chimp" on many a weeknight monologue), but only Kathy Bates as Jay's foul mouthed pitbull of an agent with an eye on the late night throne deserves any notice (and was awarded a Golden Globe for her effort).
Parties interested in the proceedings/backstabbings sponsored by the incompetence shown by NBC executives, a genial Jay and his pushy agent-ess and an underachieving David Letterman may be better served by reading the minutia filled novel, but the movie serves as a great crib-note version and quick fly on the wall view into one of the most bizarre infights in television history.
6 Prelude to Conan's Situation out of 10 (GOOD)
"Therrrrre... goes Johnny!"
HBO pulls back the curtain behind the Letterman vs Leno debacle of 90s late night television and blows up NBCs skirts in the process. Based on the book by media journalist Bill Carter, the insider view into the machinations between Dave, Jay and management are both entertaining and interesting and bring a mostly impartial eye to the proceedings. The actors portraying the stars try their best with somewhat shaky results (the real life David Letterman particularly hated his doppelganger, calling him a "psychotic red haired chimp" on many a weeknight monologue), but only Kathy Bates as Jay's foul mouthed pitbull of an agent with an eye on the late night throne deserves any notice (and was awarded a Golden Globe for her effort).
Parties interested in the proceedings/backstabbings sponsored by the incompetence shown by NBC executives, a genial Jay and his pushy agent-ess and an underachieving David Letterman may be better served by reading the minutia filled novel, but the movie serves as a great crib-note version and quick fly on the wall view into one of the most bizarre infights in television history.
6 Prelude to Conan's Situation out of 10 (GOOD)
Trilogy of Terror (1975)
Trilogy of Terror (NR)
"Troika of Her-or"
A trifecta of mid70s television horror, the ToT is most famous for its weirdly racist third story where a girl is terrorized in her lavish apartment by a reanimated voodoo fetish doll with razor sharp teeth and spear. The "horror" fun with puppets is entertaining, but the sub par popculture boogiemen of the first two stories (split personalities and inappropriate student/teacher relationships) sinks this far into the after-adult-school specials muck. Directed with expert camp by Dark Shawdows alum and all stories starring the wide eyes Karen Black (even as twins!), 3 of Terror is a cult classic for fans of camp and 70s TV with the third act providing the only WTFs to stand the test of time.
4.5 Establishing Sitcom Shots out of 10 (MEDIOCRE)
"Troika of Her-or"
A trifecta of mid70s television horror, the ToT is most famous for its weirdly racist third story where a girl is terrorized in her lavish apartment by a reanimated voodoo fetish doll with razor sharp teeth and spear. The "horror" fun with puppets is entertaining, but the sub par popculture boogiemen of the first two stories (split personalities and inappropriate student/teacher relationships) sinks this far into the after-adult-school specials muck. Directed with expert camp by Dark Shawdows alum and all stories starring the wide eyes Karen Black (even as twins!), 3 of Terror is a cult classic for fans of camp and 70s TV with the third act providing the only WTFs to stand the test of time.
4.5 Establishing Sitcom Shots out of 10 (MEDIOCRE)
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About Me
- Kevin Gasaway via HardDrawn
- Turlock, California, United States
- Media and Reviews by Kevin Gasaway