): Kevin Spacey goes one up and not only stars but also directs this biopic on the singer Bobby Darin. Beyond the Sea is a passable biopic but when there are better options such as Ray(Ray Charles) or myriad of jazz musicians one wonders if this was needed. Granted Spacey is a fan of the tragic singer and wants to give his homage but the one glaring issue with the film is with the casting of Spacey himself. Put it bluntly he was too old to play the boy singer who reached his highest accolades in his early 20s and passed away when he was 37. On the other hand, Spacey does something Jamie Foxx never attempted: sings. Darin's performances are all Spacey. The musical sequences deliver an extra jolt of energy because we're aware that the actor playing the singer is actually doing the singing, rather than lip-synching to a recording. Great music and a few good scenes do not a movie make, but if you're a fan of Darin or his era, Beyond the Sea will likely represent an undemanding place in which to try the water.
Review of Beyond the Sea
