De-Lovely Movie Review 2004

Biopic of songwriter Cole Porter (Kline) is played as if Porter himself were directing a musical about his life. Focuses on his adultery-ridden marriage to put-upon wife Linda (Judd), who puts up with everything for as long she can. Dreary film is brightened by oddly updated covers of his tunes done by contemporary pop stars such as Elvis Costello, Alanis Morissette, and Sheryl Crow, but the story contains no real nods to Porter's artistic genius or creative struggles. Contrived staging is stolen from better films like "All That Jazz" and "Cabaret." Solid cast is very good, especially Judd, but story is deadly dull and glum.

Distribution

MGM Home Entertainment, 2500 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90404-6061, Phone: (310)449-3000, Fax: (310)449-3100, URL: http://www.mgmhomevideo.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on DVD
Running time 125 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Gays, Musical Drama, Musicals, Biopics: Musicians, Period Piece: 1920s, Marriage, Marriages of Convenience

Screenplay

Jay Cocks

Cast

Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd, Jonathan Pryce, Keith Allen, Natalie Cole, Elvis Costello, Kevin McNally, Allan Corduner, Sandra Nelson, James Wilby, Kevin McKidd, Richard Dillane, Peter Polycarpou, Edward Baker-Duly

Cinematography

Tony Pierce-Roberts

Director

Irwin Winkler

Music

Cole Porter

Other

Tim Fraser, Julie Monroe, John Hill, Janty Yates, Eve Stewart

Producer

Irwin Winkler, Rob Cowan, Charles Winkler, MGM