Beyond the Sea (2004)

A swooning study of "Mack the Knife" singer Bobby Darin (Spacey) specifically, and his relationship with his wife Sandra Dee (Bosworth).

Director:

Kevin Spacey

Writers:

Kevin Spacey, Lewis Colick

Stars:

Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, John Goodman

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin Spacey	...	Bobby Darin
Kate Bosworth	...	Sandra Dee
John Goodman	...	Steve Blauner
Bob Hoskins	...	Charlie Cassotto Maffia
Brenda Blethyn	...	Polly Cassotto
Greta Scacchi	...	Mary Duvan
Caroline Aaron	...	Nina Cassotto Maffia
Peter Cincotti	...	Dick Behrke
William Ullrich	...	Little Bobby
Michael Byrne	...	Dr. Andretti
Matt Rippy	...	David Gershenson
Gary Whelan	...	Jules Podell
Jake Broder	...	1st Assistant Director
Tayfun Bademsoy	...	Ahmet Ertegun
Tomas Spencer	...	Delivery Guy

Storyline

Consummate entertainer Bobby Darin (1936-1973) is making a movie about his life. He's volatile, driven by the love of performing, ambition, perfectionism, and belief that he's living on borrowed time. He begins in the Bronx: a fatherless lad learning music and dance from his mom. His career starts slowly, then "Splish Splash" puts him at the top of the charts and on "Bandstand." He wants to be an entertainer, not a pop star, so he aims for the Copacabana; then it's on to the movies, where he meets and marries Sandra Dee. After, it's balancing career, health, marriage and family life, balances he doesn't always keep. Throughout, conversations with his boyhood self give him perspective.

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Plot Keywords:

career | sandra dee | bobby darin | love | singer | 

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Taglines:

BOBBY DARIN . . . in the era of cool he was the soundtrack.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music | Musical

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some strong language and a scene of sensuality

Details

Country:

USA Germany UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 November 2004 (UK)

Also Known As:

Bobby Darin Biopic

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

$23,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$29,869 (New Zealand) (17 November 2006)

Gross:

$29,869 (New Zealand) (17 November 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lions Gate Films, Archer Street Productions, QI Quality International GmbH & Co. KG

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At one point, Barry Levinson wanted Johnny Depp for the lead role.

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Goofs

The film omits several key people (including Bobby Darin's second wife), and some key events (including how he learned the truth about his background) did not take place as shown.

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Quotes

Mary Duvan: [after Sandra and Bobby get engaged] I wished you had concentrated more on Rock Hudson.
Sandra Dee: Rock Hudson is a very nice man, Mother, but I'm not in love with him.
Mary Duvan: He still would have made a better husband than that "BOBBY DARIN"!

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Crazy Credits

During the end credits we see Kevin Spacey performing another song. In the background there are lines moving to the music.

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Connections

References Tammy and the Doctor (1963)

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Soundtracks

"Mack the Knife"
(1954)
Original German lyrics by Bertolt Brecht (as Berthold Brecht) (1928)
English lyrics by Marc Blitzstein (1954)
Music by Kurt Weill (1928)
Published by WB Music Corp. on behalf of Kurt Weill Foundation for Music, Berthold Brecht
Joseph & Josephine Davis as Executors of the Estate of Marc Blitzstein/Universal Edition A.G./European American Music Corporation
Performed by Kevin Spacey & The John Wilson Orchestra

User Reviews

More of a Spacey showcase than an absorbing biopic

Spacey sings. Spacey dances. Spacey wears a succession of ghastly outfits.

This biopic of Bobby Darin splits cleanly into two modes. In the first, Kevin Spacey does highly watchable singing and dancing routines. In the second, he portrays a rheumatic singer who defied doctors and male-pattern baldness to become a star.

Although the film flicks back and forth between the two modes, they never gel as one seamless story, which is a problem for a biopic of a man whose life contained only a handful of interesting events.

It doesn't help that Spacey's Darin interrupts the plot every so often by stepping back from the narrative and discussing the film with his younger self. It is a device that does little more than remind you that you are watching a film - a fact that is never far from your thoughts anyway because of the large number of somewhat contrived dance numbers.

Nor are the biographical sections very convincing. It is clear well before the extensive pre-credits disclaimer that the director has taken some diabolical liberties with Darin's life, making you wonder what you have learnt from the film. Did Darin really take his name from a half lit neon "Mandarin" sign outside a Chinese restaurant? Did he really die after a successful comeback gig in Las Vegas, or was that just a narrative invention to end on a high note?

The upshot is a film that is more a celebration of Kevin Spacey's impression of a world-renowned entertainer than a celebration of the entertainer himself.

It is a tribute to Spacey's talent as an actor that the film remains likable, not least because he doesn't have the polish of an accomplished director. Too many scenes feel as though he was too shy to make his fellow cast members do one more take.

There is enough energy on display to allow most Darin fans forgive the film's weaknesses, but the more picky viewer will feel slightly disappointed.