Beyond the Sea DVD Review:

After been told he would not reach his sixteenth birthday because his heart had been damaged when he suffered from severe rheumatic fever, Walden Robert Cassotto (Ullrich) was encouraged by his mother Polly (Blethyn) to pursue his love of music. In 1958, at the age of twenty-two, he recorded his first hit record “Splish, Splash”. It was a smash hit and launched his career under his new stage name, Bobby Darin (Spacey). Superstardom followed and he moved into movies and met his wife, screen starlet Sandra Dee (Bosworth). He was living his dreams but he always knew he was living on borrowed time.

Kevin Spacey directs himself in his dream project but can the accomplished actor bring something new to the biopic? Well he really tries.

Taking a rather unique approach by making out that Darin is making a biopic about his own life, with the older Darin talking to the boy who has just found out that he is sick. The two lead us through the most important moments of Darin’s life. We see him learning to play every big band instrument, leaving the Bronx to start his career, having his first hit record and starring in a movie. We also see him meeting the love of his life, Sandra Dee, the ups and downs of their marriage and finally his deterioration due to his illness catching up with him. Spacey tries to cover all aspects of Bobby Darin’s life but the film doesn’t let us see enough.

There is no denying that Bobby Darin’s story in an interesting one but Spacey seems to gloss over many things. He introduces storylines and plot points but never gives them enough screen time to see them through. We see Darin’s brush with politics and his break down after some devastating news. We also witness Sandra Dee turning to drink as her marriage becomes stretched to breaking point due to Bobby’s excessive touring. The problem is that none of these events are given enough screen time to have a real impact and it leaves you just wanting to know more.

It is Kevin Spacey’s performance that really draws you into the movie however. Even though some might consider him too old to play Darin but as soon as he sings he becomes the entertainer and all those apprehensive feelings are quickly forgotten. This is a stella performance from an actor at the top of his game. His passion for the project oozes out of the screen to produces a performance that lights up the screen. He sings all of Darin’s hits perfectly, like his is almost channelling the performer’s spirit on stage.

Spacey has also surrounded himself by a good supporting cast. Kate Bosworth continues to show that she is not just a pretty face but has the talent to match. He becomes the screen starlet of the 60s Sandra Dee, making easy to see how Darin instantly fell for her. Caroline Aaron is extremely good as Bobby’s sister Nina and Brenda Blethyn is also good as his mother Polly. William Ullrich is another child actor with talent beyond his years. There are also good but small roles for Bob Hoskins as Charlie Cassotto Maffia and John Goodman as Darin’s manager Steve Blauner.

‘Beyond the Sea’ is a biopic that doesn’t cover enough facts to allow you to get to know the character. We needed to know more about the influences behind his songs and more of his personal life. Kevin Spacey delivers both an exceptional performance as the lead and visual and auditory feast as a director to bring you a film that is still very entertaining. While you will learn more about the exceptional entertainer than you probably knew before, you will still be left thinking if there is more to Bobby Darin than the film is letting you know.

Star Rating = * * *

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen with a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack, this is a good transfer. Kevin Spacey’s vividly colourful portrayal of the life of Bobby Darin is brought to life by a crystal clear picture. The sound is also very good, with Spacey’s own vocal tones filling the speakers ever time he sings.

BONUS FEATURES

Trailers
Previews of ‘Fat Slags’, ‘Blade Trinity’, ‘Assault on Precinct 13’, ‘In Good Company’ and ‘Million Dollar Baby’

OVERALL

The biopic is a film genre that bonus features were made for and the fact that ‘Beyond the Sea’ has no bonus features is almost criminal. The opportunity for extras here were bountiful. A commentary from director and star Kevin Spacey was a must, behind the scenes of his singing training was a given and a look at the musical and film career of Bobby Darin was what all his fans would have wanted to see. This DVD is a big missed opportunity.



Jamie Kelwick

It took years for this film to get made, even once Kevin Spacey was finally attached. It had failed to get made by many other directors and only succeeded because of Spacey, determined to make it his way, spending money of his own along the way. As Spacey struggled for over four years to try and put this biopic about the life of Bobby Darin together, co-writing, producing, directing, acting, singing, and dancing himself, many people complained that he was too old for the role and claimed that it was a vain project. Whether this film is an elaborate piece to display Spacey’s talent or a labor of love, one thing is for certain; it ended up being a damn good film.

In a format that hasn’t been done this good since the Fosse biopic All That Jazz, Beyond The Sea has little interest in telling Darin’s story in a traditional and straight manner. Instead the film is more interested in capturing the spirit of the artist with as many free flowing scenes which point inward and large musical numbers. Disguised as a film about Darin’s life made by himself (as played by Spacey), but then quickly dismissed as Darin begins to look over how to begin the film, the story begins at his childhood. Following the journey he takes as he discovers his love for music as a sick child, young Bobby left home for the big city and briefly found success as a teen pop idol. This did not last because he wanted more. He wanted to be a nightclub singer at The Copacabana, a nightclub that he often saw Frank Sinatra play at. By the end of his career Darin had written 163 songs, made 486 records, and sold tens of millions of records as well as having a successful film career.

The DVD is more than I expected from a film that received as little box office money as Beyond the Sea did, which was a nice surprise. The packaging is particularly nice, with a shiny cardboard slipcover over the DVD case. There is also a nice insert that gives information about each of the characters in the film, although it is the same information that is given at the end of the film.

The DVD menus are vibrant and alive, as the film is, but there is only one transition between menus. While it is a great transition it seems that they could have been a bit more creative with a film that is overflowing with creativity. The special features are simple and basic, but they have not left out the most important ones. There is a “Making of” featurette and a director’s commentary. While the commentary by Kevin Spacey only further shows why he was born to make this film, the featurette is one of the worst I have seen on any DVD. There are interviews and great footage but it has absolutely no structure and there are far too many moments of silence with random footage but no music or talking. With a film about a musician it seems ridiculous to have no music playing in the “Making of” featurette.

While the surface of the DVD is great, there are a few kinks when you dive in. This is a small detail however, especially considering how good the film is regardless of the special features.

Ryan Izay