Product Details

• Actors: Kate Bosworth, John Goodman
• Directors: Kevin Spacey
• Format: NTSC
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Lions Gate Home Entertainment
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (210 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 5559027073
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #627,184 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The chameleon-like actor Kevin Spacey is best known for playing pyschopaths (in Seven and The Usual Suspects) and capturing a creepy mid-life crisis in American Beauty--but surprisingly, playing crooner Bobby Darin, Spacey does some snappy dancing and top-notch singing. Beyond the Sea puts Darin's life through a bit of a kaleidoscope: While singing Darin's most memorable hit, "Mack the Knife," Darin suddenly stops the show, revealing that he's not at a nightclub, but in the middle of a shooting a scene about his life as a nightclub performer. Why has he stopped? Because he's just seen himself as a young boy, peering from behind a curtain. Such self-conscious narrative twists recur throughout the movie, turning Darin's fight for fame and respect into a love story between his adult and childhood selves. Sandra Dee (Kate Bosworth, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!), a hugely popular movie star in her own right, was supposedly the love of Darin's life, but she never holds his attention as does his childhood self (played by newcomer William Ullrich). It's a striking metaphor for the narcissism that drives such success-hungry entertainers. But despite (or perhaps because of) the complexity of the telling, the events never grip your emotions; though Darin's life featured hits galore and a few soap opera twists, his story lacks the seductive charm of his nighclub show. Also featuring Bob Hoskins, John Goodman, Brenda Blethyn, and Greta Scacchi. --Bret Fetzer

From The New Yorker

Kevin Spacey's wide-screen cinematic treatment of the fifties pop idol Bobby Darin is an exuberant but convoluted love letter. Taking his cues from Bob Fosse's "All That Jazz," Spacey creates a musical biography that's part fantasy (in the singing sequences) and part reality, but the movie never really jells. There's no getting around the fact that Spacey, at forty-five, can't play a baby-faced pop star, and the scenes of Darin's early years with his wife Sandra Dee (a pouty Kate Bosworth) don't come off. Still, there's a real razzle-dazzle to the movie, and the musical numbers, which are brilliantly arranged by John Wilson and sung by Spacey himself, turn out to be greatly entertaining. -Bruce Diones
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

208 of 229 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Open Letter to Kevin Spacey, February 13, 2005

By 

Antoinette Klein (Hoover, Alabama USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

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Dear Kevin,

Thank you for reviving interest in one of the truly great singers of the 20th century. Bobby Darin was a teen idol during my teen years. Your movie, so lovingly made and beautifully acted, brought back so many wonderful memories that I sat there in the theater and cried with joy. An 8th grade sock hop where everyone was jumping to "Splish Splash," a dj-call in show where my current crush dedicated "Dream Lover" to me, and the reassuring and hopeful lyrics of "Beyond the Sea" that played in my mind during some of high school's darker moments are just some of the many memories your movie brought back. I'm sure anyone of my generation who was tuned in to music would love this movie. But my 21-year old daughter whom I coerced into going with me also loved it and we plan on scouring amazon for all the remastered CD's and DVD's on this great and talented man, Bobby Darin.

Speaking of great and talented, you have outdone yourself on this one. We all knew you were a fine actor, but to see you singing and dancing and obviously loving it and imitating Bobby's style and moves so uncannily well must have brought as much joy to you as it did to all of us fortunate enough to have seen this movie.

Seeing Bobby's love affair with Sandra Dee played out on the screen was great and brought back all those hours my friends and I spent pouring over issues of "Photoplay" to read anything about the super couple.

Even those not blessed with memories of Bobby from his heydey will fall in love with this movie for its songs alone. From the snappy "Mack the Knife" opening to the tearful closing, this movie is great and one I will definitely get on DVD when available.

Thank you, Kevin Spacey. This is your masterpiece.

119 of 135 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't miss this one, November 22, 2004

By 

K. Corn "reviewer" (midwest, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

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Not only does Spacey do his own singing in this movie but he's got Darren's moves down as well. Obviously a labor of love, the movie is not without some flaws but Kevin Spacey is such a superb, riveting actor that you're likely to overlook any slight imperfections and be entranced by this movie. I've bought just about every book and video about Darren (including some rare video footage) and I'm awed at the way Spacey captures Darren's essence - his personality, his perfectionisn, the whole package. Clearly aware of the limited time available to him, Darren pushed himself to the brink of exhaustion and probably shortened his life even more - but oh, what he accomplished while he had the time!
Put this on your list of "must-see" holiday films, one that has to be see on the big screen. This one ought to catapalt Spacey's reputation even higher...and deservedly so.

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond expectations!, February 15, 2005

By 

Mary T. James "marytheres" (Loganville, Ga USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

I fell in love all over again not only with Bobby Darin but Kevin Spacey as well. I loved the movie and the music and I've tried to take my parents to see it for weeks now but it isn't showing anywhere! Why did they only open in a couple of Art Theaters? It's a shame the public isn't getting a chance to see this wonderful film about such a great performer. My dad never goes to movies but at age 76 he waits patiently for it to come to a theater near him. I've already requested to be notified when it is available on DVD. This is a must own for me. Thanks for all the love that went into making this movie. Kevin deserves an Oscar for his performance. I'd also like to track down a copy of the movie Captain Newman MD when Bobby Darin was nominated for an Oscar.