Steven Soderbergh‘s Side Effects hits theaters this Friday and anyone that reads this site knows I am recommending you stop watch trailers and just go see it opening day (read my review here). In doing press rounds for the film he’s been reiterating his plans to retire from cinema and continue work on the stage and possibly television, a move that begins with his upcoming HBO film, Behind the Candelabra starring Michael Douglas as Liberace and Matt Damon as his lover.
The film does not have an official air date yet and word was it ended up landing at HBO because studios thought it to be “too gay”. Well, expectation now is that it will play the Cannes Film Festival and air on HBO in May, and today we have our first official look at the film courtesy of HBO along with an official synopsis:
Before Elvis, before Elton John, Madonna and Lady Gaga, there was Liberace: virtuoso pianist, outrageous entertainer and flamboyant star of stage and television. A name synonymous with showmanship, extravagance and candelabras, he was a world renowned performer with a flair that endeared him to his audiences and created a loyal fan base spanning his 40-year career. Liberace lived lavishly and embraced a lifestyle of excess both on and off stage. In summer 1977, handsome young stranger Scott Thorson walked into his dressing room and, despite their age difference and seemingly different worlds, the two embarked on a secretive five-year love affair. BEHIND THE CANDELABRA takes a behind-the-scenes look at their tempestuous relationship — from their first meeting backstage at the Las Vegas Hilton to their bitter and public break-up.
Check out the first picture directly below and remember to go see Side Effects this Friday.
