Review: Beyond The Sea (C-)

Beyond The Sea (2004)
Directed by Kevin Spacey
Starring Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, John Goodman and Bob Hoskins
MPAA: PG-13
Grade: C-

Review by Bobby Nashville

I may not know much about film, but I do know that any movie that starts off with the cast arguing over how to tell the film should proceed is probably in trouble. A character known as "Little Bobby" claims to know exactly how the story should be told, and he continually pops up throughout the story to question the direction of the movie. What the hell is that all about? Talk about annoying.

It's a real shame that this film was so lame, and there's no way around it, folks, Kevin Spacey is to blame. Spacey wrote and directed this ambitious musical biography, so frankly, he has to take responsibility for it's uneven pacing and ludricous script. Kate Bosworth was a poor casting choice as Sandra Dee and Spacey looks absolutely freakish in all of that makeup. If it weren't for the excellent dance numbers, Beyond The Sea would have flat out bombed.

I have to cut Beyond The Sea a little slack, if for no other reason than I actually like Bobby Darin's music, especially the big band stuff. He had a great way of phrasing and his arrangements always had a lot of punch. Spacey certainly has a great voice (he sang all of the music), and he does a great job bringing the stage act to life. However, the strong musical elements of Beyond The Sea are not enough to make up for the awkward script, meandering direction and poor editing. This one is for serious Bobby Darin fans only.