See It or Skip It: W.E.

Madonna has directed a movie. This is endlessly amusing, and how could anyone ever think it would be any good? But it is actually Oscar-nominated this year (for costume design).

She's basically making The King's Speech for lovers. W.E. tells the story of Colin Firth's brother (you know, in The King's Speech) who gave up his throne to marry an American divorcee. The movie also cuts to a modern story, starring Abbie Cornish. But unfortunately neither works except to show off the set pieces, and, of course, the costumes.

The critics thus far have been brutal:

-AP: "The question that needs to be asked about Madonna's W.E. is why?"

-New York Times: "Madonna has come up with a female friendship movie, which would be fine if she weren't busy trying to prove her art-film bona fides."

-Toronto Star: "A glorious mess."

-EW: "The movie is a folly, a desultory vanity project for its director and co-writer."

We give it one out of five stars. Definitely Skip It! (Unless you just want to see the pretty costumes.)