De-Lovely

[eastbayguy]

Any Cole Porter fans out there? What a silly question in a gay message board. If you are more than a fan and a bit of a student of Cole Porter, I suggest seeing De-Lovely with Kevin Klein as Cole Porter. Marvelous movie, for the most part.

 

You need to be prepared to open your mind a bit before going to see this movie. First, be open to Cole Porter's music being portrayed in a less commercial manner than you're used to hearing it. You'll hear a more bluesey, down-tempo Porter than was the smashing commercial success. After seeing the movie, I think it is possible the movie portrays some of Porter's work much as he himself interpreted his music. The movie is different on many levels and in many ways. This isn't your standard biopic in any respect. The movie plays with time in weird ways. It is interesting to watch for subtle clues and cues as to how fast time moves in places. The pace of the movie isn't steady. The movie is shot from an unusual perspective. (No, I don't mean camera placement.) That said, it is a worthwhile cinematic experience. In fact, I plan on seeing it again.

 

Porter's homosexuality/bisexuality is dealt with in a very direct fashion. We meet a couple of Porter's male lovers. Porter's wife seemed to know he had an interest in men when she married him. Yet, she seemed to expect him to loose that interest after marriage. (He doesn't, at all.)

 

The major negatives are the pre-occupation with the bad years of Porter's life. Around 1936 or 1937, Porter broke both legs in a tragic accident falling from a horse. Being vain, he placed great value in his looks and health (yet he smoked constantly) and wasn't quite the same after the horse accident. His music reflects before and after the accident quite clearly. Another negative is glossing over Porter's story telling ability. Everyone around him was convinced he'd served in the French army. He hadn't. His army stories are one example. Yet, the movie fails to go in to this at all. His biographers all devote quite a bit of time to it.

 

Best moment: The performance of "Be A Clown". I'll divulge no more about this. One of the best musical moments in a movie ever.

 

I give it two thumbs up. Lots of negative reviews. The theater I saw it in here in suburban Scottsdale was packed. The crowd was appreciative and seemed receptive to the movie. There was a smattering of applause at the end.

 

As Joe Bob says "Check It Out!"

 

--EBG

[bigguyinpasadena]

EBG,this was in an earlier thread.

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