Clevercell Very disappointing...

Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.

Reptileenbu Did you people see the same film I saw?

ThedevilChoose When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

bkoganbing There's a biography written about Cole Porter that came out shortly after he died by George Eells which is good and informative of his professional career. Some of the facts about Porter in that book are here, for instance that he was an atheist. One fact or I should say one subject that was avoided was the love that dare not speak its name. This was before the Stonewall Rebellion so we did not talk or write of such things in polite society.When DeLovely came out gone were those taboos. Now Porter is as he should be, a gay icon. Another thing they got right was that Porter liked educated and witty male companions whom he could bring out in public and who could hold their own in a conversation with say Noel Coward and a date he might have. That is contrasted with Monty Woolley, Porter's good friend from Yale who very much liked to cruise places like the Central Park Rambles for a quick trick. A fact this film also got right.The relationship between Porter and his wife Linda Lee Thomas is a complex one. The simple explanation was that she was just a beard and that might do on some level. But they were far more than that. She lost a great deal of interest in sex after her first husband used her regularly for a punching bag. She was beautiful and sophisticated and if needed could also match wits with a Noel Coward. A helpful life companion except in the bedroom.Kevin Kline and Ashley Judd play Cole Porter and Linda Lee Thomas and are as matched a pair as the originals. DeLovely is not a linear biography, for that see Night And Day with Cary Grant and Alexis Smith as Porter and Linda Lee. Not terribly accurate that film either and as it came out in 1946 a whole lot Porter's best work was still to be written. Like DeLovely the songs are most definitely not in a chronological order.DeLovely is more of a Porter study than a biographical film and the musical numbers are performed more to bring out aspects of his character and they are chosen meticulously. My favorite was the use of Be A Clown to show how Porter dealt with the absurdities of Hollywood as he uses some sophisticated wit on Louis B. Mayer played here by Peter Polycarpou. Just give them what they want and you still get enough of your own real muse in there. Porter never agonized over it like an F.Scott Fitzgerald did. When Hollywood brought one of his Broadway shows to the screen it never came intact. More than most his scores were gutted and his most sophisticated witticisms never were filmed. Kiss Me Kate his most successful Broadway musical, even that sustained some cuts.The real crisis of his life came in 1938 when he suffered a horseback riding accident that broke both legs that led to many operations and a life of pain that challenged the creative genes like nothing else. But he overcame and still more of his best work was still unwritten. That's where Porter showed what he was made of. Not covered in DeLovely is any part of his life before his Paris expatriate years in the Twenties when he was a member of the Lafayette Escadrille. He was far from a society fop. It's the film's main weakness.But it's a minor point when you are treated for two hours of Cole Porter's life and music brought to us by some of today's best performers. What else to say but it's DeLovely.

bronweis Bought the movie without knowing anything about it, because of stars Ashley Judd and Kevin Kline. I did have to watch it more than once before I "got it". The key to understanding the film, is think of it like Dickens' ghost of Christmas past. And realize that Angel Gabriel is showing Cole his life, flashed before his eyes. Then we begin..Loved the idea because of the period. Like ANY truly amazing work of artistic genius, you have to give this movie a once-over before it sets in. Once, to watch the biography. Once to soak in the Linda and Cole love story. Once to understand the complexity of Cole Porter's true nature. He is truly in love with Linda, yet has other preferences- for men.Strangely, made me think of Freddy mercury (see Queen: A Night at The Opera, documentary). Finally, you settle into the musicality of this film. Re-watch several times, and like a fine wine or a groundbreaking new album, you realize the genius that is in Cole Porter's lyrics, musical writing, and larger-than-life personality. Actress Caroline O'Conner does an unreal Ethel Merman-esque performance. How did this film not win multiple Oscars? Actress, Actor, screenplay, etc, etc. Standing ovation to entire musical cast, theatrical performers, and all the amazing hard work. <3 thank you. thank you. thank you. Want to see this on stage!!!

dwatkins6886 I have never ever been a fan of Broadway musical type movies, until I stumbled on this movie. I also never knew anything about Cole Porter or his life, much less that he wrote many of the very popular tunes we've heard.I believe Kevin Kline performed amazingly in this movie, along with Ashley Judd's performance. I believe they are the reason I enjoyed it so very much. The cameo performances in the film were so fabulous to enjoy with the various artists.Mr. Kline & Ms. Judd, thank you for bringing Cole Porter's life more into the light and for me to enjoy. Thanks to you, I now have another one of those FANTASTIC movies that I can put into the DVD player at any time and watch beginning to end, no matter how many times I've watched it. BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE!!!!

Jackson Booth-Millard I can agree that in terms of story this film deserves only two stars out of five, but I have given it an extra star because of the wonderful songs. Basically it is the biopic about musician and songwriter Cole Porter (Golden Globe nominated Kevin Kline), and the story sees him reminiscing to Gabe (Jonathan Pryce) about his past, as his life is to be portrayed in a stage musical. Even knowing he was gay, Linda Porter (Double Jeopardy's Golden Globe nominated Ashley Judd) marries him, and it is a three part story first in Venice and Paris, then success grows in New York and Hollywood, and the last act having Cole being crippled, but thankfully not spoiling his career. Also starring Kevin McNally as Gerald Murphy, Allan Corduner as Monty Woolley, Sandra Nelson as Sara Murphy, Keith Allen as Irving Berlin, James Wilby as Edward Thomas, John Barrowman as the Night and Day performer, Kevin McKidd as Bobby Reed and Peter Polycarpou as Louis B. Mayer, with musical performances by Robbie Williams, Elvis Costello, Alanis Morissette, Sheryl Crow, Mick Hucknall and Lemar. It is great to see the stars and real singers singing some fantastic songs written by Porter for stage and films, including "It's De-Lovely", "What is This Thing Called Love", "Let's Misbehave", "Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love", "Anything Goes", "Begin the Beguine" and "Be a Clown". I didn't pay that much attention to the story, but for the songs, this is entertaining enough. Worth watching!