De-Lovely (2004)
As fun as it was to watch Cary Grant play Cole Porter in Night and Day, there was one aspect of the composer’s life that just couldn’t have been included in 1946. In 2004, there were no constrictions, and the marriage of Cole and Linda was completely explored in the heavy drama De-Lovely, starring Kevin Kline and Ashley Judd.
I know the preview made you think this was a glitzy, fluffy musical full of Cole Porter tunes and fun choreography, but that was just an enticement to get more ticket sales. This is not fluffy, and while there are over a dozen songs, it’s not glitzy. The movie starts off with an elderly Kevin Kline entering an empty theater with a director, Jonathan Pryce. At the same time Jonathan shows the progress of a stage musical about Kevin’s life, Kevin inserts his input. “That’s not how it was!” etc., and his memories come to life and show the audience the missing pieces. It sounds very fun, especially since there are so many songs from his famous shows performed in and out of character, but I want to stress again that this movie is a drama. The Porters did not have easy lives, and their marriage certainly had as much downs as ups.
Musical theater fans will understandably be more critical of this movie than just the average viewers. While great attention to detail is paid to the sets and costumes, most of the singers who perform in the movie sing in a modern style, not how people sang in the early 20th century. As that is the only flaw in a very well-executed movie, hopefully most people can look the other way. After all, this is Kevin Kline’s hour, not anyone else’s, and he certainly shines.
In a tour-de-force performance, he ages decades, comes across genius inspiration as well as personal demons, sings, dances, has to manage terrible pain, and enters despondency. It’s great fun as he sings “Be a Clown” and as he serenades Ashley Judd with “Easy to Love”, but by the time the credits roll, you won’t be tapping your toes anymore. I was so depressed, I had to stay up for a couple of hours after the evening movie was over, just to dispel the energy.
Still, Kevin Kline fans (and who doesn’t like Kevin Kline?) are going to want to see it. Anything Goes fans are going to want to see it. Can-Can, High Society, and Kiss Me Kate fans are going to want to see it. Those who like artistic movies that are filmed with interesting directing styles and inventive storytelling techniques are going to want to see it. Those who love musician biopics where the actor and the real person blend seamlessly into one are going to want to see it. Unless you really don’t like musicals, you’re going to want to see it. Just be prepared and have a stiff cocktail waiting for you by the finish line.
More Kevin Kline movies here!
I know the preview made you think this was a glitzy, fluffy musical full of Cole Porter tunes and fun choreography, but that was just an enticement to get more ticket sales. This is not fluffy, and while there are over a dozen songs, it’s not glitzy. The movie starts off with an elderly Kevin Kline entering an empty theater with a director, Jonathan Pryce. At the same time Jonathan shows the progress of a stage musical about Kevin’s life, Kevin inserts his input. “That’s not how it was!” etc., and his memories come to life and show the audience the missing pieces. It sounds very fun, especially since there are so many songs from his famous shows performed in and out of character, but I want to stress again that this movie is a drama. The Porters did not have easy lives, and their marriage certainly had as much downs as ups.
Musical theater fans will understandably be more critical of this movie than just the average viewers. While great attention to detail is paid to the sets and costumes, most of the singers who perform in the movie sing in a modern style, not how people sang in the early 20th century. As that is the only flaw in a very well-executed movie, hopefully most people can look the other way. After all, this is Kevin Kline’s hour, not anyone else’s, and he certainly shines.
In a tour-de-force performance, he ages decades, comes across genius inspiration as well as personal demons, sings, dances, has to manage terrible pain, and enters despondency. It’s great fun as he sings “Be a Clown” and as he serenades Ashley Judd with “Easy to Love”, but by the time the credits roll, you won’t be tapping your toes anymore. I was so depressed, I had to stay up for a couple of hours after the evening movie was over, just to dispel the energy.
Still, Kevin Kline fans (and who doesn’t like Kevin Kline?) are going to want to see it. Anything Goes fans are going to want to see it. Can-Can, High Society, and Kiss Me Kate fans are going to want to see it. Those who like artistic movies that are filmed with interesting directing styles and inventive storytelling techniques are going to want to see it. Those who love musician biopics where the actor and the real person blend seamlessly into one are going to want to see it. Unless you really don’t like musicals, you’re going to want to see it. Just be prepared and have a stiff cocktail waiting for you by the finish line.
More Kevin Kline movies here!