Beyond the Sea (2004)

I don't know much about Bobby Darin. I keep mixing him up with Bobby Van. Can't keep my Connies straight either… which one is Francis, which one is Stevens? So, when I started this movie and saw Kevin Spacey as Bobby Darin throw a hissy fit in the middle of a performance, I assumed they were trying to establish that Darin was a tantrum-throwing middle-aged has-been on his way down. And wasn't I surprised to find out later on that Mr. Darin died when he was 37 years old! I don't mind so much if a "star" plays a real person throughout times in his/her life when maybe the age thing is being stretched a little bit, especially if the film encompasses an entire life, but for Spacey to attempt this role at all was utterly ridiculous. Darin fans must be outraged, and those of us who know little or nothing about him going in will get entirely the wrong idea about him. His "courting" of Sandra Dee pinged the creep-meter all the way through, and his proclivity towards wrecking entire rooms and breaking everything he could get his hands on when something displeased him is hardly a praiseworthy trait. Spacey's age is a real problem in scenes like this; they might be more effective played by a younger actor who could embody a young creative hothead and not make the audience dislike him so much. As it is, all we see is the aforementioned middle-aged tantrum-thrower, and it's not a pretty sight. I'm sure the real Bobby Darin had many good qualities, but you'd never know it watching this film. The musical set-piece in the street was ridiculous… and again, looking at Spacey, why is this thick-waisted middle-aged man dancing in the street in the first place? Oh… he's supposed to be 20. I keep forgetting.Good points? Well, I understand that was Spacey singing… he did reasonably well covering Darin's hits. I never could stand "Splish Splash", but the title tune is nice, as is "Dream Lover". I love John Goodman but even he seemed to be phoning it in. Best performance was probably by Bob Hoskins.This is an obvious vanity piece that does not do credit to anyone involved with it. Avoid at all costs. Darin fans won't appreciate the liberties Spacey takes, and those unfamiliar with Darin will come away disliking him intensely which is more than likely not deserved.

It might had bomb at the Box Office, when it came out in 2004, but for me, I found the movie to be, very good. It's a guilty pleasure of mine. Directed by Kevin Spacey, the film chronicles, Bobby Darin (Kevin Spacey) determination to rise from his working class roots as Walden Robert Cassotto, a frail Bronx boy plagued by multiple bouts of rheumatic fever, to his rise of one of the top lounge singer of his era, to his downfall to grace. The movie tells the story of Bobby Darin in a very interesting new way. Rather than providing a straightforward biography, the film weaves fantasy sequences with scenes containing somewhat fictionalized accounts of events in Bobby Darin's life. Throughout the film, the adult singer interacts with his younger self and even goes off into a musical sequence. Does Characters break into joyful song at the most inopportune moments? At times, yes, but you'll find yourself, singing along with his song hits, like "Splish Splash", "Mack the Knife", "Dream Lover" and yes, 'Beyond the Sea". I like a movie that doesn't take itself, too serious. The movie was really trying to go for the cool factor. Did it work? I thought so, but I do wish the movie was little more focus on the story than gimmicky up the movie to make it, watchable. It felt like 2004's De-Lovely," the story of Cole Porter' with its framing. This has been Kevin Spacey's dream project and for the most part, he did it well, both in directing and starring. About Kevin Spacey being too old for the part; I have to agree, it was a bit jarring, but it didn't take me out of the film. Darin died at the age of 37 while Spacey at the time of filming was 45. The film didn't hide that fact, from the audience. They showcase, the obvious age difference right from the outset, with a bizarre setup in which Kevin Spacey is supposed to be Bobby Darin as an older man playing himself as a younger man. It's very odd, but got my attention. Spacey's acting is hit and miss. Yes, there is that overused persona of the sarcastic and sardonic wise guy in this with cheesy dialogue, but then, there is Bobby Darin, back from the death. He really looks like Bobby Darin in the looks department. It's very uncanny. In the film, Kevin Spacey wasn't lip-synching. He was the one singing all the tunes. Yes, Spacey's singing is nowhere near as good as Darin's, but he was alright for the most part. He does have a musical background, being in stage productions of The Sound of Music & Lost in Yonkers. Not only that, he was a big fan of Bobby Darin; so you can know he can sing his songs. He also proves light enough on his feet to contribute to the film's many dance numbers. It's even more evidence of how awesome, Kevin Spacey is. Kate Bosworth as actress, Sandra Dee wasn't that memorable. She cannot bring emotions to the surface. She's by far, the weakest link of the film. The supporting cast does well like Bob Hoskins, John Goodman and others, but their parts are too small to tell, if they giving it, their all. Beyond the Sea rides on how much the audience knows about Bobby Darin. Since Darin's career is short-lived to dying at the age of 37. Not a lot of people might see this film. I have to say, they should. The film does scan through his life, as if reading bullet points, but there is enough twist and turns to keep it, very interesting and entertaining. About the historic accuracy, it's somewhat fiction, somewhat non-fiction. Example: The song, "Beyond The Sea," was recorded many years prior to Bobby's relationship with Sandra Dee. Is Bobby Darin, an egotistical, fame-hungry, man like the movie portray him as? Probably, but it's does show a good side of Darin, as well. I like movies that able to do that, show he's faults and goods. At least, the real life people around Bobby Darin's life, like daughter, Dodd Darin, wife Sandra Dee and former Darin manager Steve Blauner like the film and through it was a great performance. Overall: It's an excellent tribute by a fan, for fans of Bobby Darin, but for the outsiders looking in. They might not get it and sadly, I wish the movie work, more on that, because that is what Bobby Darin deserve. A good overall movie; not a alright movie like this.

Kevin Spacey is best known for playing pyschopaths and a creep in mid- life crisis but surprisingly,he plays crooner Bobby Darin.He does some snappy dancing and top-notch singing. Beyond the Sea puts Darin's life through a bit of a kaleidoscope. Spacey, who stars in the lead role and used his own singing voice for the musical numbers, co-wrote, directed, and co-produced the film, which takes its title from the Darin song of the same name. It depicts Darin's rise to teen idol success in both the music and film industry during the 1950's and 60's, as well as his marriage to Sandra Dee, portrayed by Kate Bosworth. John Goodman, Bob Hoskins, Brenda Blethyn and Greta Sacchi co-star.Born Bobby Cassotto and raised in the Bronx, young Bobby was raised by his mother, Polly, his brother-in-law, Charlie, and his sister, Nina. At the age of 15, Bobby contracted a severe case of rheumatic fever, which was expected to take his life; while it left him with a weak heart, Bobby beat the odds and survived. Buoyed by a love of music passed along by his mother, Bobby learned to play several instruments and began singing as he recovered. Displaying a confidence and drive which stopped just short of arrogance, he adopted the stage name Bobby Darin and set his sights on becoming a star. After a string of hits as a rock & roll singer, Darin takes another gamble, and with the help of manager Steve Blauner he reinvents himself as a supper-club vocalist in the manner of Frank Sinatra. All the more remarkably, he succeeds, and his swinging version of "Mack the Knife" tops the charts. Now a major singing star, Darin decides to take up acting; on the set of his first movie, he woos his female co-star Sandra Dee, and despite the stern objections of her mother, Bobby and Sandra wed. But after a string of successful movies for Dee and hit records and an Oscar nomination for Darin, the shifting tastes of the 1960's throw their careers off-track. Bobby cautiously embraces the new sounds of the day, but his old fans don't want to hear him cover Bob Dylan or the Rolling Stones, while the younger audience isn't interested in his new sound, leaving Darin in a difficult place to make his way back to stardom.Many people under 40 may not even remember Bobby Darin, let alone know about his remarkable life story. Beyond the Sea may rectify that problem and stand as a wonderful tribute to an amazing talent who left us all too soon.It is a heartfelt gem, so earnest, so joyful and so celebratory of Bobby Darin's spirit that the movie's flaws or embarrassments are completely irrelevant.Also,Kevin Spacey the actor makes up for his directorial effort.While Kate Bosworth is superb as Darin's charming wife Sandra Dee.Overall,it a good biofilm.

I did not Bobby Darin at all before the film and I have to confess I did not know what I was about to watch. I really enjoyed this film because I think Kevin Spacey is really playing very well (from what I have read many people complain about his age but I am not really sure it is relevant I prefer an "old" actor playing a part very well more than an actor fitting perfectly the age and not capable of doing something proper). The real problem with this film is that is not really original but apart from that I really loved it and was captivated by the story and sad at the time and I think it was the purpose of the film in the first place. I also want to discover this singer now and it was also a purpose of the film.The rest of the cast gets the job done but nothing more but the magic comes from the great Kevin Spacey who proves he is capable of playing amazingly well.I was at first tempted by an 8 but the 6.6 average mark is a shame for this film I advise everyone to watch.