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Movies / On DVD / De-Lovely
De-Lovely

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De-Lovely (2004)

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Reviews Counted:151

Fresh:74

Rotten:77

Average Rating:5.7/10

Consensus: Musical numbers save movie from cliches.

Runtime: 2 hrs 5 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Directed by Irwin Winkler, DE-LOVELY depicts the life of the great American composer Cole Porter (Kevin Kline). Despite his sexual preference for men, Porter found inspiration and virtually... Directed by Irwin Winkler, DE-LOVELY depicts the life of the great American composer Cole Porter (Kevin Kline). Despite his sexual preference for men, Porter found inspiration and virtually unconditional love with Linda Lee (Ashley Judd). Told in flashback as Porter is near death, the film follows the Porters' fabulous, unconventional relationship from their meeting in Paris to their subsequent moves to Venice, New York, Hollywood, and Williamstown, as well as the many stops along the way. Kline perfectly captures the Porters' zest for life and seemingly inexhaustible need for love. Classic tunes such as "Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love," "Let's Misbehave," and "Anything Goes" take on whole new meanings when considered in the context of Porter and Lee's life together. Contemporary musical performers, including Alanis Morissette, Natalie Cole, Robbie Williams, Elvis Costello, and Sheryl Crow, appear in the film singing Porter standards, a device that works surprisingly well. Judd holds her own as the devoted Linda, who gives her love to Porter and supports his musical ambitions while trying to overlook his homosexual affairs. Historians may debate the details of the Porters' relationship, but one thing is clear: DE-LOVELY dazzles with great music, period costumes, and fine performances. [More]

Starring: Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd, Jonathan Pryce, Keith Allen

Starring: Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd, Jonathan Pryce, Keith Allen, Natalie Cole, Angie Hill

Director: Irwin Winkler

Director: Irwin Winkler
Screenwriter: Jay Cocks
Producer: Irwin Winkler, Rob Cowan, Charles Winkler
Composer: Cole Porter
Studio: MGM/UA

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Reviews for De-Lovely

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41 - 60 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

A most unusal biopic about a most unconventional lovely story

Full Review Source: Des Moines Register | comment Comment
08/05/04
Jeffrey Bruner
Jeffrey Bruner
Des Moines Register

A lovely fantasia on the life and times of the man who said 'I wanted every kind of love that was available' and then described most of them in his songs.

Full Review Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | comment Comment
07/30/04
Jack Garner
Jack Garner
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Winkler’s technique is to proceed a scene of Porter experiencing something with a scene of a song performance that’s inspired by that event. Rinse. Repeat.

Full Review Source: Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia) | comment Comment
07/29/04
Mark Palermo
Mark Palermo
Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

...isn’t simply a musical revue. It’s also a biography, and that’s where it’s not so pretty.

Full Review Source: Boulder Weekly | comment Comment
07/23/04
Thomas Delapa
Thomas Delapa
Boulder Weekly

Like most Mexican food in Minnesota, De-Lovely is a bold idea, timidly executed.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
07/23/04
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

It is stiff, lifeless and incomprehensibly dull.

Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee | comment Comment
07/23/04
Joe Baltake
Joe Baltake
Sacramento Bee

Porter's lyrics and melodies still sparkle with the brilliance of bubbling champagne, but this movie biography is about as effervescent as swamp gas.

Full Review Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) | comment Comment
07/23/04
John Beifuss
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

De-Lovely is an unexpected delight giving us both the wonderful music of Cole Porter along with Kevin Kline's winning turn as the composer.

Full Review Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette | comment Comment
07/23/04
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

A wildly uneven musical biography of Cole Porter.

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
07/22/04
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Keeps making the point that Cole Porter was a fun-loving, carefree man-about-town -- but if that's true, then how come his life seems so dull?

Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | comment Comment
07/21/04
Eric D. Snider
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com

As a musical, it's a dandy.

Full Review Source: Creative Loafing | comment Comment
07/21/04
Matt Brunson
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
07/20/04
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

By miscasting its two stars, De-Lovely falsifies Porter’s story almost as much as Night and Day did.

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
07/20/04
Jim Lane
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
07/20/04
Kimberly Jones
Kimberly Jones
Austin Chronicle

The movie is but a pale imitation of Porter's amazing life. Here, it just looks, well, kind of interesting.

Full Review Source: Dallas Observer | comment Comment
07/20/04
Robert Wilonsky
Robert Wilonsky
Dallas Observer

Functions beautifully from the context in which many of his songs are presented.

Full Review Source: Sympatico.ca | comment Comment
07/19/04
Angela Baldassarre
Angela Baldassarre
Sympatico.ca

'There are no little memories with you,' Cole tells her.

Full Review Source: Mixed Reviews | comment Comment
07/18/04
Martin Scribbs
Martin Scribbs
Mixed Reviews

Uneven and ultimately superficial...but the composer's enduring genius and the lavish production are enough to make the picture worth a listen and a look.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
07/18/04
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

Porter's songs keep much the film afloat when, otherwise, it would have sunk. No matter how turgid or murky the movie becomes, when the music starts, you're flying.

Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | comment Comment
07/16/04
Jay Boyar
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel

Not inept enough to make the composer spin in his grave ... but not insightful or clever enough to please the old boy, either.

Full Review Source: Miami Herald | comment Comment
07/16/04
Connie Ogle
Connie Ogle
Miami Herald
 
 
41 - 60 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
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Latest News for De-Lovely

June 22, 2004: This musical bio of Cole Porter looks at the songwriter’s loving and unorthodox relationship with his wife, Linda—meaning it doesn’t shy away from his homosexual affairs. Opens in new window
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