De-Lovely
De-Lovely Image
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Metascore
53 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 33 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.3 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 42 Ratings

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  • Starring: Ashley Judd, Jonathan Pryce, Kevin Kline
  • Summary: De-lovely is an original musical portrait of American composer Cole Porter filled with his own unforgettable songs. A sparkling celebration of Porter's music as well as a stirring exploration of the artist's journey and the undying power of love. (MGM)
  • Director: Irwin Winkler
  • Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Romance, Music, Musical
  • Rating: PG-13
  • Runtime: 125 min
  • More Details and Credits »

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 33
  3. Negative: 4 out of 33
  1. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    100
    The movie is remarkably touching and engrossing, with Kline's spot-on acting and realistically second-rate singing balancing Judd's one-note performance as his wife.
  2. Rolling Stone
    Reviewed by: Peter Travers
    75
    At its best, De-Lovely evokes a time, a place and a sound with stylish wit and sophistication.
  3. Dallas Observer
    Reviewed by: Robert Wilonsky
    60
    Ultimately, it's the songs that energize this highlight, and lowlight, reel; you may forget the movie when you walk out of the theater, but you will do so while humming the soundtrack.
  4. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: Michael Sragow
    38
    This new version may be closer to the Cole Porter biography, but it's hardly any more true to life. There is no life in this movie. It's a brittle contraption of a biopic.

See all 33 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 35
  3. Negative: 4 out of 35
  1. JeffS.
    10
    I anticipate that De-Lovely will become one of the most highly regarded films of the past fifty years. Mr. Winkler's team has fashioned a daring concept with poignance, wit, great music, design and fully nuanced and realized performances by Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd and Jonathan Pryce. The engagedment of current pop standard, rock and jazz singers and stylings seemlessly provides the story with resonance for present times and injects the account of Cole Porter's life with appropriate irony and insight. Thanks to DVD distribution, De-Lovely" will outlive its critics and, as more discover it, be considered a classic. This may be Irwin Winkler's greatest film.… Expand
  2. NormanF.
    10
    De-lovely embodied the powerful impact that Cole Porter had on a culture. De-lovely embodies a piece of the cresting American culture and what it would offer the world.… Expand
  3. FrankO.
    8
    Better than I expected, beyond the music which I already knew, I learned lots about the man Cole Porter, great cinematography going back and forth with blk/white..current day life to reliving past...Kevin Kline was outstanding.… Expand
  4. JeanM.
    5
    This movie has good music, but good music does not make a good movie. The people behind De-Lovely are obviously very professional, and the narration idea IS interesting, but the movie remains, however, incredibly boring. The viewer comes out of the film having finally learned very little about Cole Porter, which is a shame considering the movie is about him... In fact, the most fun to be had in this film is identifying the myriad of current pop stars who guest star in the film (Robbie Williams, Diana Krall, Lemar, Sheryl Crow, etc..), and while guest stars are sure fun in any film, they should never be the point of one. Simply put, the bottom line is, De-Lovely isn't horrible...but it certainly isn't good. There is much, much better cinema to be seen out there. If you wish to see a good biopic about a famous musician, check out the amazing Walk The Line (about Johnny Cash), one of the best movies in my opinion. Ray, though overrated, is still a lot better than De-Lovely. And finally I haven't seen the Bobby Darin biopic Beyond The Sea, but it seems pretty good as well.… Expand

See all 35 User Reviews

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