De-Lovely (2004)
I had high hopes for this movie because they could be totally honest about Cole Porter this time. Yeah!
The movie was truthful about his life and about his sexual orientation but it was less entertaining to me than Night and Day.
Kevin Kline had the role of Cole Porter and Ashley Judd was his wife Linda Lee.
Unfortunately, the movie seemed bound to portray Cole and Linda Lee’s marriage as a love match when it was clearly one of convenience. I can see how they came to understand and support each other as good friends but the movie seemed to be pushing the ‘romantic’ angle which wasn’t convincing to me.
Moreover, the film did not give much space to his abilities as a composer. It is dramatic and affecting that his songs are a reflection of his relationships. But, surely, he was also gifted and prolific. It must be hard to do to show a person struggling and succeeding at their work because too few biopics develop this part of their life. Still, I wish they had spent more time on showcasing his personality and tracing his career.
From what I’ve read, it appears that he was so successful that a film about his career would have been boring.
However, all the musical productions were highly entertaining and the DVD is worth renting for them alone. My favorite number was Elvis Costello’s “Let’s Misbehave.”
Short biography of Porter’s life.
Summary of Porter’s career.
An interesting analysis of his life.
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Almost every biopic I have seen has the message or slant of the people who produce it rather than a well-rounded version of historical fact. I don’t care for the heavy-handed ones but if it were just a history lesson we might not pay movie-theater prices to watch them.
Yeah, I don’t mind the kind of interpretation you mentioned, especially if they just go for it without apology.
I didn’t list all the “asides” in the movie about how his life doesn’t fit the expectations for a musical comedy. It was very arch and unnecessary. I don’t know why they made it since they seemed so embarrassed about it.
I was trying to be restrained in my comments but I felt annoyed by this movie.