Michael Douglas gives 'best performance' as Liberace

Critics hail veteran star's camp, tacky turn in 'Behind the Candelabra' as landmark role

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MICHAEL DOUGLAS gives the performance of his career as Liberace in Steven Soderbergh's film portrait of the flamboyant American pianist, say the critics.

Soderbergh has said that Behind the Candelabra— which was produced by American television network HBO for a paltry $5million — was "too gay" for Hollywood studios, which refused to finance it. Had they been braver, says The Independent's Geoffrey McNab, they would now have a serious Oscar contender on their hands thanks to Douglas's "quite wonderful" portrayal of Liberace.

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