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Showing all 15 reviews...
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[ATTENTION: This review reveals content of the movie.]
I really knew nothing of Cole Porter so I found this film to be fascinating. An outstanding performance by Kevin Kline. I know he's capable of much better singing but I guess Porter was a less than average singer so unfortunately, we never got to hear what Kline is truly capable of. But I love John Barrowman and didn't even know he was in this film! That was a real treat for me. Ashley Judd was surprisingly strong as well. I haven't always been impressed by her acting, but she more than managed to keep up with Kline on this one. Beautiful cinematography, costumes, and set design. The structure of the film was interesting too. At first, I didn't like the use of the Jonathon Pryce character and the "older" Porter looking back on his life. Thought it was confusing and didn't add anything to the film. But it did grow on me as I got used to it. Loved the opening and closing shots too that seemed to bring everything full circle.
8/10
16.10.2004 -
shirls_corner@ - age: 26-35
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[ATTENTION: This review reveals content of the movie.]
My initial hopes upon seeing De-Lovely was to at least get to know more about the iconic American song-writer Cole Porter. What I got was a wonderful musical I'd love to see again and again. Along with the (de)lovely music, we are also treated to great singers, a moving story and exceptional acting. This movie will remain in your heart and mind you long after you see it. The beginning was exciting & explosive, the middle was heart-wrenching and the end was filled with sad melancholy - essentially a microcosm of Porter's life. A must see, not only for fans of musicals, but for all movie lovers.
9/10
14.10.2004 -
jpt2000@ - age: 26-35
Louis B. Mayer said Americans don't like clever lyrics. Cole Porter complied and becaqme an icon in his field. The director of this film tried to create a clever film a la All That Jazz, and failed. The film has many merits, including Porter's great music. However the individual parts in this case do not make a great 'sum'. Best way to enjoy... buy a CD.
6/10
7.9.2004 -
mj_brown@ - age: 50+
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Sappy story structure - homosexual agenda rises above the writing - doesn't answer simple questions, such as how he bacame famous. Exceedingly melodramatic, if you like such, leaves you with no real sense of Porter. Fails utterly to explain his "wife's" motive for marrying and staying. Unsatisfying as drama, good if you like bad show tunes concealing homosexual wit.
5/10
4.9.2004 -
shorelamp@ - age: 36-49
Wonderful cole porter songs saved this one for me. Could have been better if Kevin Kline had not sung and without ashely judds silly smirk right through. Costumes great, didn't like "Begin the Beguin" song to me off key.
6/10
2.9.2004 -
rilnytzky@ - age: 50+
For the most part I enjoyed this film. I love plays, and beautiful music, and this had an abundance of that. Parts were slow, and lost me during that, but overall I enjoyed my experience.
7/10
29.8.2004 -
alanis_melissa@ - age: 26-35
De-lightful! My wife and I enjoyed it. The staging of the story was very cleverly done. With taste. Pity that Diana Krall was not allowed to sing her complete number... she is a fabulous Canadian singer.
8/10
28.8.2004 -
mauriceskinner@ - age: 50+
Pretty much anything they could have done as a backdrop to Cole Porter's insipid, yet hypnotically mesmerizing and romantic lyrics and magical sense of melody would have make this film great. Throw in outstanding cinematography, beautiful locations, fabulous costumes and very fine direction and well you have an 8 out of 10. A little less of Ashley Judd's non-acting and Kevin Kline's singing and it would get a 9 or 10. Story-telling of an icon is always a challenge. The way that Cole Porter's romantic lyrics were woven into his somewhat non-romantic real life relationships makes me feel like I know Cole Porter intimately."So in love, with you, am I" made me weep. My advice... listen to a Cole Porter Collection (My favourite is by Ella Fitzgerald), drink some wine, and allow yourself to become melancholic and THEN see this movie.
8/10
25.8.2004 -
bradleym69@ - age: 36-49
From the moment I heard about this period piece about cole porter I was certain that I would at least see it... but wow. I had bought the CD in advance by chance... having done so prepared me for the power of the lyrics and music but it is even more powerful with the movie. The costumes and make up are exceptional... and my wife was a costumer for stage and film so I have a trained eye for quality. I thought that Kevin and Ashley were brilliant in this movie. Kevin never ceases to amaze me... he is very talented.
9/10
17.8.2004 -
bill_kreutzweiser@ - age: 36-49
I dont really like movies that style but it wasnt that bad how I imagined.
4/10
16.8.2004 -
heywhatsupguys@ - age: 13-17
I was looking forward to this movie and wow! Did it start out with a bang. I loved the way his life was presented as a musical directed by Gabe. All the songs were fantastic. But at some uncertain point the movie turned from well-paced and entertaining to a long overdrawn bio-epic. I'm not asking the director to gloss over the dark and unpleasant parts, but please keep it moving. And perhaps they were chain smokers but the forshawdowing was so blatant that combined with the slow pace, I found myself asking for her to be dead already, and hopefully he'll follow quickly so I can enjoy the tunes on the ride home.
6/10
11.8.2004 -
philsajonesen@ - age: 36-49
Yes a great movie indeed. I learnt a lot about Cole Porter that I had not previously known. The acting by all, the photgraphy, the dialogue all first class. However I do have some reservations about the way his music was treated. It was obviously being used to link the script but the lack of orchestration on some numbers irritated me and why was "Begin the Beguine" played half a tone flat? Nevertheless a really enjoyable film.
8/10
9.8.2004 -
druid@ - age: 50+
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A great cinema experience. Kevin Kline and Ashlyn Judd were fantastic. Robbie Williams & Alanis Morissette were excellent. (they've earned my respect by enjoying the singing in their own unique way, unlike the others) Diana Krall didn't impress me. It was a great movie as a whole. Great acting, great performers, great musicians. I didn't feel that the songs were cut abruptly short, which I was afraid of before watching the movie. Beautifully shot and wonderful costume. Enjoy the conversation and the songs of Coley.
10/10
23.7.2004 -
ju1943_1@ - age: 26-35
Kevin Kline is fantastic in this role--as he almost always is. The music is great, the costumes and locations alluring. The makup is somewhat embarassing at times. The aging on some of them is very evident, but not on Kline. The singing by such contemporary artists as Robbie Williams and Alanis Morrissette show that they are simply not up to interpreting this style of music. Natalie Cole was good. Can't decide on Elvis Costello. Diama Kral... looked uncomfortable, but sounded good as always. I recommend you see it, but I can't call it great.
7/10
21.7.2004 -
zioconbrio@ - age: 50+
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My girlfriend and I made a last minute decision to skip the I, Robot line-ups and thought a de-lightful musical would be good for girls night out. We chuckled about our preconceived notion through our tears at the end. The scenery, costuming, music, and story were worth every tear however. There was a constant stream of incredible talent to sing his songs. I almost rose to cheer one stage performance forgetting I was at the cinema VS the theatre. I'll be recommending this movie to others and searching for the soundtrack..
8/10
18.7.2004 -
iamlori7@ - age: 36-49
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