Review of De-Lovely (2004) by Laurel S — 19 Mar 2011
Kevin Kline inhabits the role of legendary songwriter Cole Porter like a second skin, expertly capturing Porter's charm and torment. It's possibly his best role yet. In this look at Porter's life, his marriage to socialite Linda Lee (Ashley Judd, also in her best role) included a secret gay life few knew of.
Director Irwin Winkler and writer Jay Cocks clearly have a great deal of admiration for Porter, and sometimes trip up, but they wonderfully manage to find the inner beauty and pain of Porter's most well-known songs, sung by an array of contemporary artists, including Alanis Morissette (ok) and Elvis Costello (pretty good).
But it's Kline who really makes this movie shine, especially in the scene in which Porter seduces a Broadway hunk (John Barrowman) by teaching him how to properly sing 'Night and Day'. De-Lovely marvelously evokes a time and place with sophistication and bracing wit.
This review of De-Lovely (2004) was written by Laurel S on 19 Mar 2011.
De-Lovely has generally received positive reviews.
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