The rarest of all birds, a serious musical. Presenting a not-always accurate look at the relationship between Cole Porter, his wife and muse Linda Lee Porter (who was actually older than him unlike Ashley Judd who is visibly younger than Kevin Kline portraying Porter) this is a great ride through some of the gems of the Great American Song Book, through musical vignettes that explore the background behind the music.
I was impressed by the obviously late-middle aged Kline portraying Porter as a younger man than Kline very evidently was. IT was a movie - right, details like that don't matter. He's great at it too. Will probably get at least ONE nomination.
The film weaves a complex thread between Cole's life, loves and music, the songs executed by Kevin Kline and a star studded cast of Jazz and pop performers - If you're into these contemporary singers - Elvis Costello, Alanis Morrisette, Sheryl Crow, Diana Krall, etc then sight recognition of the singers will all be part of the fun. I must confess I didn't recognize most.
There were also some costume and props blunders, but it was overall a better than average offering, even though I had to wrestle with self-discipline not to make smart aleck comments during the screening.
For instance the same stripy top worn by a principal character in two diverse scenes, and some obvious second hand crap rhinestones thrown in with finery but just looking dowdy and wrong, no way to they hold up next to Ashley Judd's mikimoto pearls...
It was lush and vivid though, and I really enjoyed the way time was telescoped during the passage of verses in the songs. It is a beautiful film, and not at all uneven -- which is most unusual by today's standards, all together very fluid and very expressive. Also: NO CGI.
This is an old fashioned full throttle silver screen 3 hanky picture.
For me especially, it was very meaningful, as in my own life I lived the experience of a very similar relationship to that of Linda and Cole's for better than a decade, so I have first-hand insight into their story. Beyond the music and the history portrayed, I bow down to the deft hand of Jay Cocks being able to do such exquisite justice to their complex relationship - so easily misunderstood or demeaned.
Neither I nor my friends knew much of anything about Cole Porter beyond the legacy of his music, so the experience of exploring his music against the backdrop of his lifetime was powerful. More than just another film, one has the sense of having been through something magic and amazing, which is really what movie-going should be.
Not sure how it's going to play in Peoria though. This will probably be a critical favorite, the soundtrack will do great, and in limited release, will become a cult classic.
I was impressed by the obviously late-middle aged Kline portraying Porter as a younger man than Kline very evidently was. IT was a movie - right, details like that don't matter. He's great at it too. Will probably get at least ONE nomination.
The film weaves a complex thread between Cole's life, loves and music, the songs executed by Kevin Kline and a star studded cast of Jazz and pop performers - If you're into these contemporary singers - Elvis Costello, Alanis Morrisette, Sheryl Crow, Diana Krall, etc then sight recognition of the singers will all be part of the fun. I must confess I didn't recognize most.
There were also some costume and props blunders, but it was overall a better than average offering, even though I had to wrestle with self-discipline not to make smart aleck comments during the screening.
For instance the same stripy top worn by a principal character in two diverse scenes, and some obvious second hand crap rhinestones thrown in with finery but just looking dowdy and wrong, no way to they hold up next to Ashley Judd's mikimoto pearls...
It was lush and vivid though, and I really enjoyed the way time was telescoped during the passage of verses in the songs. It is a beautiful film, and not at all uneven -- which is most unusual by today's standards, all together very fluid and very expressive. Also: NO CGI.
This is an old fashioned full throttle silver screen 3 hanky picture.
For me especially, it was very meaningful, as in my own life I lived the experience of a very similar relationship to that of Linda and Cole's for better than a decade, so I have first-hand insight into their story. Beyond the music and the history portrayed, I bow down to the deft hand of Jay Cocks being able to do such exquisite justice to their complex relationship - so easily misunderstood or demeaned.
Neither I nor my friends knew much of anything about Cole Porter beyond the legacy of his music, so the experience of exploring his music against the backdrop of his lifetime was powerful. More than just another film, one has the sense of having been through something magic and amazing, which is really what movie-going should be.
Not sure how it's going to play in Peoria though. This will probably be a critical favorite, the soundtrack will do great, and in limited release, will become a cult classic.