The Popkorn Junkie :: Beyond the Sea

      In the past six months, we have seen our share of musical biopics. First came the laid back, and a little too matter-of-fact, life story of legend Cole Porter -- "De-Lovely", with Kevin Kline in the lead -- he also did all of his singing in the film. Next came the critically lauded "Ray", featuring Jamie Foxx in a career defining performance -- he also did some of his singing in the film. Now we are given the life story of the great Bobby Darin, a man who wanted very much to be better than Frank Sinatra, but always knew that he was breathing on borrowed time. This film is the lovechild of director and star, Kevin Spacey. It is obvious that he loved Bobby Darin's music and really has a joy for the subject of Darin's life. This was a labour of love, if nothing else. Oh, and guess what -- Kevin Spacey joins Kline and Foxx -- he did all of the singing in this motion picture.

     Bobby Darin's life is seen from beginning to end, starting out with Darin as a young boy (William Ullrich) who is stricken with a terrible case of the rheumatic fever. The doctor tells his mother (Brenda Blethyn) that he doubts Bobby will live to see the age of fifteen. Ha. We then follow Bobby from a struggling performer, to a national superstar, to a movie star, and finally, to a man who is forced to face his own mortality. Along the way, he meets and falls in love with screen star Sandra Dee (Kate Bosworth). The two marry and eventually have a child. One of the highlights of the film occurs when Bobby finally gets the chance to play at the Copacabana Club, where he has dreamed about playing since he was a small boy. John Goodman stars as Bobby's lifelong friend and agent; Bob Hoskins as Bobby's brother-in-law and moral support; and, Caroline Aaron as Bobby's sister, Nina. If you don't know much about Darin's life, there is a startling family secret revealed in this film -- I will leave that for you to experience.

     Whereas "De-Lovely" was laid back and "Ray" was dramatically smooth, "Beyond the Sea" is wild, irreverent, and sometimes wholly absurd. It borders on campy. The bizarre narratives and insertion of 'Little Bobby' into reality are a bit too much for the film to handle, especially when we really don't know when Darin is narrating the story. If he is narrating when we think, that would mean that he could seen into the future. Problems like this are what make "Beyond the Sea" too uneven to be a great film. I also had a problem with the assembly of the final product here. Darin's life moves entirely too fast and we surely don't get to see half of the interesting parts that made up his career -- hell, we barely get a real glimpse into Bobby Darin the person. His ego is visible when he storms through his house after losing the Academy Award. His heart is visible when he gives his son a gift not to be opened until his death. And, his forgiveness is visible when he dedicates a performance to his sister Nina. They come in spurts.

     If not for the musical numbers, and Kevin Spacey, "Beyond the Sea" would be just another run-of-the-mill musical biopic. However, Spacey directs the musical numbers with a weird kind of electricity that manages to shoot off screen. The choreography is flawless, the pacing is amazing, and Spacey can dance just as well as he can sing. And, boy, can he sing. Kevin Spacey is Bobby Darin. In fact, he actually sounds better than Bobby Darin. His voice is clear, energetic, and soaring. His renditions of songs like "Dream Lover" and "Beyond the Sea" are simply amazing, and this might be Spacey's most concentrated work to date. Most of this probably stems from the fact that Spacey has been fascinated with Darin for years and years. Whatever the reason, he has managed to do what neither Kline or Foxx could do -- portray a musician and sing their songs as himself. While they were imitating the musicians they were portraying, Spacey takes the songs and makes them his own.

     As for the supporting cast, Kate Bosworth is lovely and charming as Sandra Dee, though this role gives her very little room to flex any of her dramatic muscles. She has one scene with Bobby when they are first married, but I don't think I saw a single genuine tear fall from her eyes -- it looked painful, yet extremely awkward. Nevertheless, she does a fine job. And, as great as John Goodman is here, he looks tired and run down in most of his scenes -- comparable to Marlon Brandon in "The Score". I fear that if Goodman does not find a way to control his weight, we might have a repeat of the John Candy scenario. Let's hope not. Rounding out the ensemble is Bob Hoskins in a sweet and low key performance...a role he plays to perfection. Roles like this don't receive enough attention, and surely won't here because Spacey is so damned amazing and enthralling as Darin.

      For all of my praises and problems with "Beyond the Sea", I guess I am just stuck in the middle of the road. I can't side with the people who absolutely hate this film because the musical numbers and Spacey alone are enough to make me recommend this film. However, I cannot recommend it whole-heartedly because it is a jumbled up mish-mash of ideas and sequences that seem out of place and out of synch. Maybe Kevin Spacey is just not as good of a director as he is an actor, and that is the problem. Maybe he should have let someone else direct, though I can't imagine him pulling off a richer performance under a different director. All in all, Bobby Darin fans will love the film, musical fans will love the film, and everyone else will go one way or the other. My recommendation is that you first buy the soundtrack, listen to it a few times, and then go see the film -- that way you can get into the mood before hitting the theatre. "Beyond the Sea" is too flawed for greatness, but too great for forgettable.

-- Billy Ray ( 2 1/2 out of 4 pops )

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