Swellegant wit and genius songwriter Cole Porter rates a second biopic on the grounds that Night And Day (1946) was absurd although Porter was tickled to be played by Cary Grant. He mightn't be unhappy with Kevin Kline, either.
But this archly-stylised musical's excruciating device of the angel Gabriel (Jonathan Pryce) taking a dying Porter to a theatre revue of his life knowing homage to vintage bioflick structure, we hope is be-laboured.
This time Porter's homosexuality is a Big Deal, but his 38-year marriage to socialite muse Linda Lee (Judd's best performance in years) is the only really moving element. Fortunately, the fabulous songs, performed by scads of contemporary artists, provide some relief in an overlong, overdone portrait.