• Soderbergh, again as his own Director of Photography here, has an excuse to go crazy with his lighting schemes and production design and it’s quite a marvel—it’s the main reason I’m archiving this film- he really takes in all the gold, rhinestones and sequence décor and costume
  • It’s a very risky undertaking for both Damon (as the “blonde Adonis”)—and Douglas as the complex Liberace with strong vocal fluctuation work. They’re both very well drawn characters. It’s admirable to see their dedication as actors
  • Dan Aykroyd gives us one good laugh as his manager as does Debbie Reynolds as Liberace’s mother—but really it’s Rob Lowe who kind of steals the show for me. He’s the pill-pushing doctor Dr. Jack Startz. He has a puckered face, orange tan and a squint. It’s almost too much comedy like he’s acting in another movie (maybe a farce like Anchorman)- but it’s good stuff
  • Soderbergh is clearly having fun on the stage with all the options for lighting. The tables of the guests in Vegas is a highlight—really there is so much of this movie just covered in his glowing yellows and golden hues that he’s known for
  • There’s a circular nature of relationships for Liberace which makes a nice formal touch- Damon comes in as the new boy and sees his future in the current boyfriend who is on his way out
  • The film marks Damon’s character arc with transformation and Douglas’ Liberace of consistency
  • Gold galore, clothes, little yippie toy dogs, hot tubs
  • Recommend but barely- not in the top 20 of 2013