Valentino

Structured as a series of flashbacks from Valentino's funeral to his early years in America, the first hour or so of this biopic is Russell's sanest and most controlled work in several years, despite its hollow cynicism. About halfway through, though, the movie degenerates into a series of typical Russell hyperboles. There is also a shift in tone from comedy to pathos, resulting in a dismal drop in entertainment value. Nureyev (in his debut) dances agreeably often, but his acting is hopelessly under-directed.