Bob Myers

Hilarious caption - keep up the good work - whoever you are.

Gayzed and Confused

Mr. Mast is certainly correct in his opinion of the handsome production values and strong performance from it's two leads, but to me it seemed like they're walking on egg-shells trying to convey Judd as his true love when they're union was sexless - since Porter was a homosexual. This "they were meant for each other too bad he's gay" angle the film posits becomes a self-conscious contrivance creates a strange vibe, as if to say a gay man's only truly worthy relationship could come from a woman. Judd's acceptance of his gay affairs and their positive effect on his songwriting - and the film-makers attempt to sell us the notion that good songs are worth the lifelong suffering of Judd's character bothered me. In the end the notion that their enduring marriage was a hard-fought success, particularly toward the end when it kicks into full-tilt redemption mode. I'll admit that the final shot of the couple is touching, one can't help but catch an unwelcome whiff of ironed-out glamourization. It seems that even behind every great gay man, there stands a woman. How De-Ludicrous.

Morris Fletcher

I didn't find the storyline in this new bio-pic all that compelling, in fact I felt like the insertion of the many great musicians doing their interpretations of the Porter Classics - I might have walked out. They make the film lively and engaging, especially in the first half of the film. Unfortunately, the music takes a back seat in the second half to the bio-pic cliche of watching its subjects grow tragically old and crippled. More a film for music lovers than film fans.

Teresa Miller

In regard to the rather baffling remarks of Gayzed and Confused, I would just like to point out that the marriage that Linda and Cole fell into added to the dramatic weight of what might have been a far more lifeless biopic. Judd personifies an early 20th century beauty who uses grace and charm to hide a lot. She is Cole's muse, coach and promoter -- everything, in fact, but his lover. She accepts this reality, but the movie is vague about why. The two love each other, without passion but in every other way. To me this is far more romantic a premise than if they were June and Ward Cleaver. I can't think of a performance that Judd has turned in that even holds a candle to her subtle grace and natural charm in this film.

De-lousy

My biggest problem with this biopic - is that it remains to cheerfully superficial. As opposed to superior films of this ilk (particularly Bird and 'Round Midnight) where the artistic process is examined and revealed. The seeming nonchalance of Porter's music seems to have fooled Winkler into depicting its composition as something effortlessly tossed off before evening cocktails. In only one instance does Cole illustrate the methodology of his songwriting, when he coaches a Broadway singer on how to sing "Night and Day" as a song about "obsession." The film could have used more of this kind of insight.

Bryce Weller

Since I could probably rattle off at least a dozen high-profile Hollywood marriages that are facades to hide the husbands homosexuality, you would think director Irwin Winkler and writer Jay Cocks would know a Hollywood couple who could have given them insight into a straight/gay marriage. This would have us believe that when a woman marries a gay man the only thing she must be tolerant of is his insistence on singing at parties and his glancing at cute waiters. This film celebrates the Porter's glorious and enviable marriage without bothering to give us any insight into why it worked for 40 years. Winkler and Cocks don't appear to have a clue. And since this aspect of the film is as a result unsatisfying it would have been nice if, as your last respondant mentioned, the film's creators examined the process of the art form. Since we really get very little in the way of insight into much of anything - you have to wonder why they bothered. The answer is simple - the music. Porter is one of the 20th centuries best songwriters, and trotting out some of today's most talented musicians to flesh out these tunes was worth the price of admission. De-lovely is a nice film for music de-lovers, and only a so-so creation for de-lovers of film.

f-Hag

I have known gay men all my life but I have never known a gay man as portrayed by Kline. He just does not seem sexually attracted to men. Isn't this a problem? Judd responds to every line of his dialogue as if she were patiently bestowing a blessing or title. Where is the natural rage Linda must have exhibited even once in her long marriage to a flamboyant man? Oh yeah, Kline isn't even flamboyant. Question to your readers has Kevin Kline ever portrayed a gay man before in his career?

Adam

To The Last Post,

I can't recall whether or not Mr. Kline has ever played a homosexual in another picture, but he certainly played with our perception of homosexuality in Frank Oz's In and Out.

As to the other posts, you all make valid points, but I disagree with some of them. BEWARE OF A BIG SPOILER!!!! To the post that made the remark about the film suggesting that behind every great gay man is a great woman, doesn't hold much weight, because much of this film is based in truth. At any rate, sex and love are two completely differnt things, and clearly, Porter got different types of attention from different kinds of people. Hell, Linda even assists Cole in finding companionship when she realizes she's going to die. It doesn't matter to her if it's a man or not, provided there's a connection. I'm not gay, but I have friends who are, and in fact, one of these particular friends saw the film and thought it was beautiful. Your comment didn't even occur to him. He saw it in a completely different light. Again, I guess it all boils down to one's perception. I say love knows no bounds.

As for those of you who feel this is more of a film for music lovers than movie lovers, I can see that point as well. Personally, I thought De-Lovely worked as a bio-pic, and by the end of it, I really thought that Winkler drove home the fact that Porter used real life situations in the composing some of his most well known songs. I also loved the way he used contemporary musicians to reach a generation who might not be that familiar with Porter's music.

De-Lovely isn't a perfect bio-pic, but it sure is De-Lovely to look at and listen to, and the performances are outstanding.

Burger Stand

As to the question posed by the last respondant, I can certainly name one gay role Kline played off the top of my head that should be easy enough, in fact I'll leave it to the next person pick up the thread - I'll just remind that in this film he kisses Tom Selleck. Easy One.

Sew This

I'll pick up the thread and leave on dangling - the movie you're talking about of course is "In and Out," however in an earlier role he was the object of desire of another man, can you name that film?

Bio-Pic Crazy!

Continuing the thread!

I believe that would be Chaplin. Going back even further, can anyone name the 80's picture in which Robert Downey Jr. plays a character who engages in a sexual act to score drugs?

Trivia chain letter

To the last respondant who answered with the incorrect Chaplin, the actual movie I'm looking for was Sophie's Choice, which makes your score Less Than Zero.

Proper Gent

Disregard all this bloody nonsense written beneath (that is if it's negative or trivial) De-lovely is delicious. It's one of the classiest and most moving bio-pics to come down the pic since 'Round Midnight and I can only hope that the new such feature about Ray Charles is as brilliantly executed.

Joseph Halfon

Picture was terrific. Kevin Klein deserves an Oscar. However, Sheryl Crowe should be hosewhipped for her version of Begin the Beguine. This robust music should be played with a full orchestra with a large rhythm section repeating the haunting bolero tempo. Not a swooning nymph stretching over a piano leaving out the blood pulsing bolero beat as Ms. Crowe reflected. Cole Porter revolutionized the music world when he introdiced the bolero and made America aware of the magnificent latin rythim. It should be played as such. If it is to be sung then use a strong male voice that is aware of the latin sound. If it was up to me, I would reshoot the scene and let Ms. Crowe slink elsewhere.

jean clark

Loved the movie, the music and all the actors....but I am going crazy trying to figure out WHAT they did to Begin the Beguine to make it sound so 'off' I am no musician so I can't tell.

Cole Slop

I'm not any kind of homophobe and I understand that Porter was a great song-writer (he actually wrote Don't Fence Me In) which is kind of a country western standard that Hank and Willie have covered, but I really didn't see the point in this film - it doesn't shine a flattering light on Homosexuals and I could have lived without knowing this fact about this man.

Jim Brighton

Cole Mountin'

Not a bad film, De-Lovely - it aint no Ray and I could have lived without knowing about Porter's homosexuality, maybe they should have named it Cole Mountin' but you can't beat the music. Plus the last few frames of the film were well worth watching the hole shooting match.