Beyond the Sea - A Movie Review

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"Beyond the Sea" is a biographical musical drama that was released in 2004. It was written by Lewis Colick and Kevin Spacey and directed by Kevin Spacey. The movie was met with mixed reviews; but it was nominated for a Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack and Spacey was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor-Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. The movie was a bomb at the box office with a budget of $25 million and box office receipts of $8.4 million. CAST Kevin Spacey - Bobby Darin Kate Bosworth - Sandra Dee Bob Hoskins - Charlie Maffia John Goodman - Stephen Blauner Brenda Blethyn - Polly Cassotto Caroline Aaron - Nina Cassotto Maffia Greta Scacchi - Mary Douvan William Ullrich - Young Bobby The movie is done with narrative along the way when the adult singer, Bobby Darin, converses with his boyhood self, Young Bobby. Walden Robert Cassotto (Bobby Darin), rose from working-class roots to become a star. When he was 7 he had rheumatic fever and wasn't expected to live past 15. n the early days Bobby formed a band and would accept gigs at any nightclub that would hire him. His agent got him a contract with Atlantic Records; and he became a teen idol with the song "Splish Splash". Darin didn't want to limit himself to rock and roll audiences; so he expanded his reach to include big band singing and songs such as "Mack the Knife". He is cast in a movie, "Come September", with 18-year-old Sandra Dee. Bobby falls in love with Sandra and is determined to marry her. They elope and anger Sandra's mother. During this time Darin comes out with "Beyond the Sea" and "Dream Lover". He finally realizes his mother's dream and appears at the Copacabana nightclub in Manhattan. Darin's popularity takes him on the road and away from Sandra. She begins to drink heavily; and they fight a lot. They separate,reconcile and then have a son, Dodd. Darin is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the movie, Captain Newman, M. D. If you want to know what happens next, you will have to watch the movie. Some of the critics of this movie had the same concerns that I did. Is a 40ish man able to pull off playing Bobby Darin in his 20s and 30s? Did Kevin Spacey take on this project to legitimately portray Bobby Darin or was this whole movie a vanity project to show off the fact that he could sing, act, write and direct? I think it's a little bit of both. I sensed a certain bit of arrogance from Spacey on the screen; and it was hard to believe that he was in his 20s! Regardless, I do enjoy Bobby Darin's music; and the movie moved along and entertained me; so I would recommend "Beyond the Sea". This movie is rated PG-13. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons (actual photo of Bobby Darin)