DE-LOVELY (2004)

 

Directed By: Irwin Winkler

Written By: Jay Cocks

Cinematography: Tony Pierce-Roberts  

Editor: Julie Monroe 

Cast: Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd, Jonathan Pryce, Kevin McKidd, Kevin McNally, Allen Corduner, James Wilby, Keith Allen, Taylor Hamilton, Angie Hill, Natalie Cole, Sheryl Crow, Elvis Costello, Robbie Williams, Alanis Morrisette

Inspecting a magical biographical stage musical, composer Cole Porter reviews his life and career with his wife, Linda.

This was a film it has taken me a while to watch. As I knew more about the soundtrack than the movie. It’s one of those I always meant to watch it eventually type of movies where you feel you have to be in a certain mood to watch or can never think of when specifically needing something new to watch. Not has it ever truly been recommended to me by anyone. So I finally decided to take the plunge.

The film feels like how I described it. It’s on and certainly entertaining and thinks of itself as smart. Though it never truly elicits any true emotions from the audience. So it never truly connects and comes across more as if you were watching a visual biography that tries to be flashy and inventive.

As the film and story are preset like Cole Porter is creating a musical of life and constantly having to deal with a director who has his own vision or wants even the harder more private stuff to be part of it. As they both look back upon his life from the director's Chairs in the audience. 

The film is presented as a love story between Cole and his wife. Even as he is bi-sexual or more homosexual.

Kevin Kline shines in the main role. He is truly what makes the film Memorable. As he seems to go above and beyond to make it work. He already is usually one of the crowning achievements in any film. Only wished he would have had more starring roles when he was younger. Though it always seemed hard to find a place to put him in films. Which might be why he stuck more to theater over the years. He has a theatrical way of speaking at times, but so does John Lithgow, and look at how many legendary roles he held down. Though maybe only a few as the leading man. 

As they go through the numbers some are more stage-bound and others more in life outdoors. Though always feeling staged. As it stages at least half of its scenes in theaters of some kind. 

The film reminds the audience of ALL THAT JAZZ. Only that movie was based on and directed by its subject Bob Fosse. This film never quite ends up as warts and all, dramatic or hard-hitting. That film unfortunately never as inventive either. 

This film could work as a Broadway show all Its own. Though it never quite comes across as grand as it should. 

As it is based on a true story and biography. We all know what is going to happen. It telegraphs its moves at times in true dramatic cliches. Though comes across as quite elegant as a prestige film.

Irwin Winkler is the director and he isn’t bad here he just unfortunately makes the material feel basic. It never quite has the flair of the person it is based on. 

It’s a prestige project that tries to be playful. That is more meant for awards season. Yet not of that caliber. Though it is fun to see music superstars of the time period, singing classic songs. 

It’s a good presentation but never quite feels deep enough. For us to care or to be moved. Once it finally hits home and hard is at the end. You will come out of the film humming and singing and wanting to hear more of his songs.

Grade: C+