Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Matt Damon | ... | Scott Thorson | |
Scott Bakula | ... | Bob Black | |
Eric Zuckerman | ... | Lou | |
Eddie Jemison | ... | Assistant Director | |
Randy Lowell | ... | Director | |
Tom Roach | ... | Stunt Actor | |
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Shamus Cooley | ... | Camera Assistant |
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John Smutny | ... | Sound Mixer |
Jane Morris | ... | Rose Carracappa | |
Garrett M. Brown | ... | Joe Carracappa | |
Michael Douglas | ... | Liberace | |
Pat Asanti | ... | George Liberace | |
Debbie Reynolds | ... | Frances Liberace | |
Casey Kramer | ... | Dora Liberace | |
Cheyenne Jackson | ... | Billy Leatherwood |
Scott Thorson, a young bisexual man raised in foster homes, is introduced to flamboyant entertainment giant Liberace and quickly finds himself in a romantic relationship with the legendary pianist. Swaddled in wealth and excess, Scott and Liberace have a long affair, one that Scott eventually begins to find suffocating. Kept away from the outside world by his flashily effeminate yet deeply closeted partner, and submitting to extreme makeovers and even plastic surgery at the behest of his lover, Scott eventually rebels. When Liberace finds himself a new lover, Scott is tossed onto the street. He then seeks legal redress for what he feels he has lost. But throughout, the bond between the young man and the star never completely tears. Written by Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
For a film about a gay relationship - I had my doubts when I discovered the two male leads were to be played by straight men, but I couldn't be more convinced by their on-screen personas.
The kitch was eye-wateringly OTT, Douglas superbly needy yet controlling and Damon sucked into the whole charade. Rob Lowe's performance had me recoiling with his creepiness/plastic surgery face and it couldn't be farther from his more mainstream performances. For a role that appeared for only a few minutes - it stuck with me long after the film was over.
All in all, a very solid biopic film that unfortunately won't be Oscared as its been shown as TV movie in the USA. A great shame - Douglas and Damon deserve nominations - their *chemistry* is totally believable.
Final point - either Douglas is a superb pianist or the CGI of his hands on the keyboard is first rate!