A note of appreciation to all users who left comments prior to mine. You have reassured me that I'm not losing my musicality after all. Sheryl Crow's killing of "Begin the Beguine" was a complete massacre. It was simply a murder of Crow's own unique design. Changing both the melodyline and the modalities completely stripped this song of its sensuality and raison d'etre.
By the way, for all you naive non-musicians, Kevin Kline is a Julliard graduate and CAN sing very well. Check out his Pirates of Penzance with Linda Rohnstat; probably on video somewhere near you. The fact that he didn't use his vocal gifts is because, big dud here, Cole Porter could NOT sing as witness the credits if you stuck around long enough to hear CP sing one of his own works.
In closing, I cannot recommend "De-Lovely" because that murder of Crow's placed at a crucial point in the storyline just entirely drove me to distraction, tears, and out of the storyline for the remainder of the movie. By the way, I had already heard this disaster on my local radio station. I had hoped that something about Crow's performance in the movie would change my disbelief and dismay over how BAD this Beguine was treated. Alas, it fared worse in the movie when one had to actually witness her lipsyncing and lack of slip beneath her clingy gown. I hope "De-Lovely" disappears from our theaters very soon.
By the way, for all you naive non-musicians, Kevin Kline is a Julliard graduate and CAN sing very well. Check out his Pirates of Penzance with Linda Rohnstat; probably on video somewhere near you. The fact that he didn't use his vocal gifts is because, big dud here, Cole Porter could NOT sing as witness the credits if you stuck around long enough to hear CP sing one of his own works.
In closing, I cannot recommend "De-Lovely" because that murder of Crow's placed at a crucial point in the storyline just entirely drove me to distraction, tears, and out of the storyline for the remainder of the movie. By the way, I had already heard this disaster on my local radio station. I had hoped that something about Crow's performance in the movie would change my disbelief and dismay over how BAD this Beguine was treated. Alas, it fared worse in the movie when one had to actually witness her lipsyncing and lack of slip beneath her clingy gown. I hope "De-Lovely" disappears from our theaters very soon.