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Beyond the Sea
User Score
6.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 29 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 29
  3. Negative: 5 out of 29

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  1. Fantasy
    May 8, 2005
    10
    Let me sum it up in one word - Brilliant! Keven Spacey lights up the silver screen with his acting, singing, dancing and directing. He is simply masterful with this throwback of a movie when times were much simpler. He really captured the young Bobby Darin's singing mannerisms quite nicely. The present coexisting with his boyhood past was a nice novel touch. And the kid was greaat too. Go see and enjoy as you will relieve the fabulous 50's and 60's. The time period is captured perfectly from our innocent youth up until JFK and RFK being assasinated and LBJ escalating the Viet Nam war with all the protests. Music was Bobby Darin's magic elixir for staying alive. And Spacey brings the shark bite and Ole Mackie back to life with this Dream Lover of a movie.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. SandyB.
    Feb 7, 2006
    8
    The music was worth the ride, and watching Spacey have so much fun was a blast.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. BillS.
    Dec 14, 2004
    2
    Jaw-droppingly bad - overacted and underdirected with a horrible mess of a script (there was NO screenwriting credit!) and clunky plot devices designed to add an artsy veneer to an underdeveloped story. With his clay nose, Spacey looks much more like a middle-aged Karl Malden than Bobby Darin. The scene where he seduces Kate Bosworth is simply disturbing. Spacey should have let Darin rest in peace.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  4. JaniceH.
    Jan 4, 2005
    9
    For those who cannot "suspend disbelief" in order to enjoy a musical, this movie, and my review, is not for you. For the rest of us, "Beyond the Sea" is a delight. I read critics who said Kevin Spacey is too old to pull off a 20-something Bobby Darin. Wrong! Kevin Spacey's acting captures the essence of BD; after the first ten minutes of the movie it seemed that Kevin Spacey WAS Bobby Darin irrespective of age. I also read critics who said Spacey's dancing was stiff and awkward. Wrong! The production numbers were fabulous. His singing, acting, dancing were awesome, and it's a performance that should not be short-changed in this year's awards' season (although I fear it might be overlooked). Kate Blodgett, too, did a great job of portraying Sandra Dee (but I wish they had kept her hairstyles more true to Sandra Dee of the 1960's). My only disappointment is that so many important details about Bobby Darin's life were quickly glossed over or totally omitted. For example, there was no mention of his early years in the Pocono's; his unfulfilled romance with Connie Francis; his friendship with Dick Clark; his songwriting collaboration with Don Kirshner; and his subsequent marriage after divorcing Sandra Dee. Nevertheless, I loved "Beyond the Sea" and plan to see it again this week. I'm afraid it won't still be in the theaters next week. It almost appears as though some of Hollywood and the newsprint critics have dissed it with almost a jealousy toward Kevin Spacey's Herculean efforts to bring this to the screen, not to mention his compelling performance. I don't know if it will attract a younger viewing audience; but, if you're a Baby Boomer, this is a must-see.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  5. MarkB.
    Jan 9, 2005
    7
    I may not say this about any other film released in the next 10 years (or ever), but Kevin Spacey's ambitious, deeply heartfelt, nearly one-man show dealing with legendary pop singer/songwriter Bobby Darin might play better for you if you show up 15 minutes late! That's because Spacey needlessly saddles his film with a clumsy, silly, and ultimately unworkable framing device of having Darin, both at the end of his life AND as a young boy, observe and comment on his relationships, successes and setbacks. Every time Spacey inserts one of these devices into the story, it rudely yanks us out of the considerable dramatic momentum Spacey has worked so hard to build up. Too bad, because there's a lot in Beyond the Sea otherwise to admire, even to love--starting with Spacey's own dazzling performance as Darin. It's not shocking that the two look so much alike, but Spacey's vocal impersonation of Darin is astounding. (Perhaps the reason Spacey does his own singing here instead of letting Darin's own recordings do the work for themselves--as opposed to Jamie Foxx in Ray, who lets Ray Charles do the singing--is that Darin was a remarkably talented performer but Charles is absolutely one of a kind.) The fact that, despite Spacey's deep and obvious admiration for his subject, he doesn't sugarcoat Darin's less likable qualities gives Spacey's performance an edge that many viewers have felt has been missing from his post-American Beauty work. (His reaction to not winning the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1963 for Captain Newman, M.D.is a real hoot, but I sincerely hope that Melvyn Douglas's descendants don't get around to seeing it.) John Goodman, Bob Hoskins, Brenda Blethyn, and especially Caroline Aaron give Spacey fine support, and I really liked Kate Bosworth (Win a Date With Tad Hamilton) as Darin's eventual wife, teen queen Sandra Dee; Bosworth really captures Dee's onscreen tentativeness while adding a warmth and charm I always felt Dee lacked. The MGM-style musical numbers that emerge out of nowhere are great fun, too--particularly the title tune, an all-stops-out extension of Darin announcing his intentions to Dee that's as accomplished as the terrific stylizations of Cole Porter's work that filled 2004's earlier De-Lovely. Both in front of and behind the camera, Spacey really captures the intensity and drive of a man determined to fill an unfairly short life with as many accomplishments and personal satisfactions as possible. Again, Beyond the Sea would be an almost a great movie, rather than merely a good one, if Spacey had listened to somebody, dumped the annoying, artificial gimmicks and just told Darin's story. Anytime he does an aside to the moviegoing audience, or sticks that damned kid in the background, Beyond the Sea isn't just beyond the sea...it's beyond the fringe.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  6. JeffL.
    Feb 24, 2005
    7
    Goofy yet endearing musical biopic of the great, underrated pop star Bobby Darin, from late Fifties teen idol ("Splish Splash," "Dream Lover") to finger-snappin' early Sixties crooner ("Mack the Knife," the title track) to late Sixties folkie ("If I Were a Carpenter," "Simple Song of Freedom") to early Seventies comeback kid. By the time of his death in 1973 at age 37, Darin had also conquered Vegas, dabbled in television, and been Oscar-nominated for his film acting (Captain Newman, M.D.) In real life, Spacey is about a decade too old to logically play Darin, yet his heartfelt performance (he also directed this intensely personal pet project) is energetic and endearing, even when portraying Darin's darker moments (he could be temperamental, narcissistic, and cruel.) He is also an absolutely superb singer, which may come as a shock to all but those of us who heard him a few years ago singing a lovely version of Mind Games at a John Lennon tribute concert. The bizarre, real-life twist involving Darin's parentage is well-played (especially with fine actors like Brenda Blethyn and Bob Hoskins involved), but for me the real heart of the movie likes in Kate Bosworth's lovely, sympathetic performance as teen queen Sandra Dee, whose marriage to Darin was often volcanic, yet underscored by genuine love and affection. Where the film falters is in its silly and unnecessary framing device, which finds Darin periodically commenting on and critiquing his own life from some ethereal set; there was a somewhat similar device used in the Cole Porter biopic De-Lovely, where I thought it was used much more effectively. Despite its faults, this is certainly a highly entertaining effort, with great music, splashy and ambitious production numbers, and wonderful performances. It also reminds audiences of (or perhaps introduces them to) one of the most versatile and underrated show biz figures of the rock era.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  7. Chrystal
    Jun 15, 2005
    7
    I thought that the movie was pretty good. Kevin Spacey did an amazing job and this movie had some great actors. Wasn't what I expected but I'd watch it again.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  8. LarryH.
    Jun 20, 2005
    10
    A terrific performance by Spacey. His singing, dancing, directing, and acting are simply brilliant. A great film about a human being whose fighting spirit and courage should be an inspiration to all.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  9. JarrydB.
    Jan 12, 2005
    10
    Great movie. Spacey has a great voice and gives a very emotional performance.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  10. LindaB.
    Jan 28, 2005
    10
    I loved Bobby Darin when I was in my teens and I truly enjoyed remembering through Kevin Spacey's production. To understand this movie, you would need to be near 60 yrs or more...then you might appreciate Kevin's excellent performance.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  11. EmilyS.
    Jan 3, 2005
    9
    Excellent film. Entertaining. Good performances all around. Kevin Spacey is brilliant...his theatre background soars in this film.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  12. henry
    Jun 19, 2005
    1
    So what? Kevin Spacey's a better singer than you thought.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  13. NickiC.
    Jul 16, 2005
    7
    A well done film, once you got beyond Spacey being a very old Bobby Darin. Entertaining.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  14. ScottY.
    Jul 31, 2005
    4
    Really disappointing. I like the one-liner from The Onion's review about how "if you think this movie is about Bobby Darin, you weren't paying close enough attention". The reason is that this is really a fan's showcase, and it's obvious that Kevin Spacey is a big fan. Biography-wise, it's pretty bad because the viewer is given very few facts about Darin's life. Instead, Spacey tends to fill the nearly 2 hours with more musical numbers than are necessary and they don't add enough to the story. Lastly, Spacey includes a "young Bobby" always following the events of the real Bobby, and it beomes rather trite.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  15. KeithB.
    Jun 8, 2008
    8
    I think those that get overly nit picky about Spacey looking to old and the young kid narrating, seem to lose sight of how entertaining the film was and the fact that Spacey did a pretty damn good job at capturing his spirit of life lived and songs sung. Darin was a legend and seems to get pushed aside for the likes of Sinatra and the rat pack but he was every bit as dynamic and one of the greats. Nice flick!… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  16. DaveV.
    Jan 26, 2005
    4
    Kevin Spacey can really sing, but it doesn't matter. This is a vanity project for Spacey, who is more interested in showing off than in really exploring Darin. Kate Bosworth has some nice moments as Sandra Dee, as usual Bosworth rises above the dreck she's in, but it's a rather insulting portrait of Dee who is constantly telling Darin how much smarter than her he is. A one note movie and that note is shrill. Terrible.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  17. LarryL.
    Jun 12, 2005
    8
    Kevin Spacey makes a credible Bobby Darin and the film highlights some information that I'd forgotten about Darin. Overall, very good film, if a little long.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  18. pato.
    Jun 25, 2005
    9
    I'm very happy for Kevin Spacey!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  19. StevenW.
    Nov 15, 2008
    3
    This weird, tedious film was a major disappointment to me both as a Darin fan and Spacey fan.Spacey normally a great actor chose to caricature Darin instead. Also the story is inaccurate and the ending corny.The dancing and constant reflections of the young Bobby Darin were very distracting.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  20. WilliamD
    Apr 25, 2009
    8
    Spacey is remarkable as the lead actor and his singing is excellent. The movie is a bit strange in it's presentation style, and I think someone else should have directed.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  21. DermN.
    Dec 23, 2004
    6
    Gotta give Spacey respect for directing himself as an actor, singer, and dancer. As for the pic overall, well, Bobby Darin was a pretty schmaltzy guy (who married 'Gidget' and wrote 'Splish Splash'), so if the film comes across as schmaltzy then I think that's perfectly in keeping with the main character. Not a great picture, but entertaining.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
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Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
46 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 35 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 35
  3. Negative: 11 out of 35
  1. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Phil Hall
    10
    Such a hopeless mess that there's no fun in tossing insults at its endless shortcomings.
    Read full review
  2. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Kirk Honeycutt
    80
    Kevin Spacey, both as star and director, has created a hugely entertaining, highly empathetic portrait of a man for whom music was literally the thing that kept him alive.
    Read full review
  3. ReelViews
    Reviewed by: James Berardinelli
    50
    Saved by energetic musical numbers.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »