Support Shadows: Buy a Poster

In this film, Cole (Kline) starts out as an old man visited by the Ghost of Biographers Past (Pryce), who takes him on a trip through his life, centring on the deeply romantic relationship between the Cole--a witty bon vivant with a gift for clever, insightful lyrics and catchy, intricate tunes--and the young beauty Linda (Judd). We follow their life from Paris to Broadway to Hollywood, as Linda stands by her man through career ups and downs, sexual indiscretions, a horrific accident, and so on.

Porter's life is an engaging, gripping story, and telling it through his songs is a clever idea. But while the script has flashes of insight and intelligence, it whitewashes Porter's life, only referring obliquely to his sexuality (there's one brief kiss, and a truly awful gay nightclub sequence) and making out that his marriage was a big love affair. It was actually marriage of convenience between an older divorcee and a talented young man--probably more about respect and artistic synergy than love. In other words: Kline and Judd, no matter how good they are here (and they're wonderful), are hopelessly miscast.

Meanwhile, the supporting cast capture iconic figures with energy and glee. And many of the singers appear on screen, which is good fun even when they seem a bit too 21st century. Although the period is questionable anyway, since nothing provides historical context besides the costumes. Speaking of which, everyone overdresses shamefully; not a single outfit looks like real clothing. But then in a film/play within a film, maybe that's the point. These aren't supposed to be real people ... are they?

Still, they should have passion and life. And Winkler simply drains the energy from the film. We never believe a single relationship; the only spark of chemistry is between Kline and Barrowman singing Night and Day, then Winkler pans the wrong way into yet another gimmicky trick that undermines both the film's strongest scene and Porter's most gorgeous song. In the end, only the songs survive. They're so beautiful, funny and moving that you often want to close your eyes and enjoy them without Winkler's clunky "interpretations". In other words: Buy the CD and skip the film.