Beyond the Sea 2004
Given the variety of talents that Bobby Darin had, Kevin Spacey turns this biography into a variety show with big song and dance numbers and plenty of sets with garish 60’s and 70’s design. At the beginning Darin is portrayed as a mama’s boy who enjoyed learning vaudeville songs and dances from his doting, loving mother. Ugh. Later on Darin grows up to be a supremely self-confident jerk bent on his own success (as mama’s boys tend to do). Still, Bobby Darin was a unique performer who never tied himself down to any particular type of music. He enjoyed early success with 50’s rock like “Splish Splash” and “Dream Lover” but then turned away from rock for standards like “Mack the Knife” and “Beyond the Sea". And that was just his first year of fame. Hits didn’t come so easily later on, though he was able to get an Oscar nomination as Supporting Actor to go with his two Grammys.
It is a fairly interesting story, but not really that unusual for someone to get fame and then fade. This isn’t Elvis, Frank Sinatra, or even Buddy Holly. And the showbiz tone of the movie, while entertaining, cheapens the story. In a big argument between Darin and his wife, Sandra Dee, it seems like they will bust out laughing at any second. That approach cuts the melodrama, but at the cost of any sense of gravity. Anyway, if you have any interest in Bobby Darin or want to find out about a largely forgotten talent from the 60’s, watch the movie. It isn’t a bad way to spend a couple of hours, but it won’t blow you away. B-.
Written: 15 Jul 2006