Strike up the band for De-Lovely

The life and times of the great American songwriter-composer Cole Porter, portrayed by Kline, in one of his best ever performances.

De-Lovely

Director: Irwin Winkler

Cast: Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd, Jonathan Pryce

Cert: 12.

The life - complicated (though he was married for years, he was a homosexual) - and times of the great American songwriter-composer Cole Porter, portrayed by Kline, in one of his best ever performances.

Cole and his wife Linda (Judd) lived a happy and long life together, though she did have to turn a blind eye to his many affairs with men, and he did, after all, bring us a galaxy of some of the most unforgettable songs ever written.

The problem with this bio is that it takes itself too seriously and, like so many films these days, it's too long.

But Kline's performance and a host of well-known singers - Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Mick Hucknall, Alanis Morissette and Robbie Williams (proving that he has the potential to become a good actor) - make it worth while through a wonderful score of classic songs.

The film is shot as a stage play about Porter's life within a screen drama as the elder Porter recalls his life and unconventional marriage.

The film has been heavily slammed by other critics but it is not nearly as bad as they claim; anyway, close your eyes and wallow in the music.

Star Rating: 4/5