Thompson on Hollywood

Review Roundup: Critics Go Ga-Ga for Soderbergh's Outrageously Mesmerizing 'Behind the Candelabra'

Reviews

Critics are over the glittering, bedazzled moon for Steven Soderbergh's Cannes competition entry "Behind the Candelabra," set to premiere on HBO on May 26 and starring a no-holds-barred Michael Douglas and Matt Damon as the famed pianist Liberace and his younger lover, Scott Thorson. The Telegraph refers to it as a "gay Pygmalion myth: call it My Fair Laddie," while the Guardian raves that "the film is mesmeric, riskily incorrect, outrageously watchable and simply outrageous." Roundup below.

By Beth Hanna
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May 21, 2013 12:51 PM
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Cannes Review: Douglas and Damon Shine in Soderbergh's Funny, Poignant Melodrama 'Behind the Candelabra'

Reviews

The Cannes Film Festival accorded Steven Soderbergh's lush period melodrama "Behind the Candelabra" a prime competition slot (his fourth) for a reason. While it's not the first time an HBO movie has played in the mainbar (Stephen Hopkins' "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers" was in competition in 2004), it will be Soderbergh's last, if he sticks to his planned retirement from making films.

By Anne Thompson
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May 21, 2013 4:30 AM
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Can Statistics Be Used to Compute a Hit Film Script?

News

Online media streaming services like Netflix and Pandora have long been using algorithms to determine what customers are watching and listening to. Now, according to an article just published in The New York Times, Hollywood may start to employ such data analysis in script development.

By Ryan Lattanzio
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May 6, 2013 1:52 PM
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Steven Soderbergh Twitter Novella Unfolds, State of Cinema Address (VIDEO)

News

The online film community has been all a chatter this week since Steven Soderbergh's State of Cinema Address at the San Francisco International Film Festival leaked online. Now, he has unveiled a new Twitter novella.

By Ryan Lattanzio
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May 2, 2013 12:30 PM
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LISTEN: Steven Soderbergh on 'What's Killing Cinema,' A Fungible Algorithm (PODCAST)

Festivals

No State of Cinema address at the SFIFF has been as hotly anticipated as this year's by Steven Soderbergh. (Listen to our podcast recording below.) This is not only because he's a prolific and beloved auteur that has worked in every genre and budget, but because he recently announced his retirement from filmmaking, in order to spend more time painting, making collages, writing books, directing a new play by Scott Burns about Columbine, as well as a stage version of "Cleopatra," and exploring other avenues of creativity.

By Meredith Brody
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April 29, 2013 3:11 PM
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Trailer Watch: Glitz, Ivory Tickling and Bath Time for Michael Douglas and Matt Damon in Soderbergh's 'Behind the Candelabra'

Video

A new teaser trailer has landed for Steven Soderbergh's "Behind the Candelabra," with Michael Douglas channeling famous pianist Liberace in all his glittered, feathered and tanned glory. As Matt Damon's Scott Thorson breathlessly gasps in the trailer, "Wow!"

By Beth Hanna
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April 1, 2013 12:40 PM
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Soderbergh to Give State of Cinema Address at San Francisco International Film Festival 2013

Festivals

Brainy Steven Soderbergh, who has earned stripes as both indie and studio director, will deliver the 10th annual "State of Cinema" address at the 56th San Francisco International Film Festival on April 29. The festival runs April 25 thru May 9. This should prove more than informative.

By Beth Hanna
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March 14, 2013 12:50 PM
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Watch: Glitzy Promo Teasers for 'Mad Men' Season Six and Soderbergh's 'Behind the Candelabra'

Television

Two glitzy teasers have landed: One for the much-anticipated sixth season of "Mad Men," promising the "affair of the year," and one for Steven Soderbergh's made-for-TV HBO film "Behind the Candelabra."

By Beth Hanna
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March 5, 2013 1:12 PM
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Rooney Mara Talks with Steven Soderbergh in Interview Magazine -- the "Finch," Loving the Oscar, Nudity and More

Interviews

Rooney Mara submitted to an email chat with her "Side Effects" director Steven Soderbergh for this month's Interview Magazine. The two smartypants engage in sarcastic banter about David Fincher, the Oscars and, er, the "reverse cowgirl."

By Beth Hanna
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February 22, 2013 2:22 PM
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Weekend Box Office Top Ten: 'Identity Thief' First Breakout of 2013 Amid Weak Field

Box Office

A weekend standout amid weather closings, "Identity Thief" outdid expectations for a terrific opening. While a number of recent releases and older Oscar contenders held up well (following the depleted Super Bowl weekend), most or all of the Top 10 films are successes. So what's the worry?