Dotsthavesp I wanted to but couldn't!

Stellead Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

Anoushka Slater While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Elias Christo (eliasjchristo) Spacey's passion project, "Beyond the Sea", does its job as a biopic in that it does tell the story of Darin's remarkable life. Spacey himself is absolutely outstanding, despite the age gap between himself and the real life Bobby Darin, he still plays the part to perfection. His performance is even further solidified as one of his best when he showcases his impressive singing ability with a voice that really sounds an awful lot like Darin's. Spacey captures, magnificently, Spacey's showmanship on-stage and actions off it. Kate Bosworth, John Goodman, and the rest of the supporting cast also are fantastic in their roles. Now for my only gripe- the directing. This is why I checked the "contains spoiler" box, because this may constitute a spoiler. The story is told out of order as a biopic within a show and this all gets muddled quickly. I would have loved to see the same story of Darin, for his is a life worth knowing, told by a more experienced director than Spacey. However, once the actual storytelling gets told and we start moving chronologically, Darin's life is told very well including every detail making for an entertaining movie. In the end, yes I enjoyed "Beyond the Sea" and yes I will see it again! I would say it is a must-see for any fan of Bobby Darin or even just a fan of Kevin Spacey

SnoopyStyle Bobby Darin (Kevin Spacey) is making a biopic of his life. He's brash, cocky and a perfectionist. As he talks to a kid in the production, he flashes back to his life starting with his mother Polly Cassotto (Brenda Blethyn) in the Bronx. Then there is his big hit "Splish Splash", his career of singing the standards, his marriage to Sandra Dee (Kate Bosworth) and his movie career. But the marriage has its difficulties, his career fades, and a shocking revelation from his sister.Kevin Spacey shows that he can be a song and dance man. The story stalls a few times. The long running time causes some of that. Also unless you're a fan of the standards, they do tend to slow the movie down. That's not to say that there aren't any compelling or funny moments. The competing running away with his wife is hilarious. His struggle to find meaning is compelling. However those moments are too few and far between. The movie could squeeze a good chuck out to ratchet up the tension.

museumofdave While essentially a standard, old-fashioned musical biopic, this Spacey oddity has many major strengths, and one whopper of a drawback; the film never flags in energy, it charts a life in music clubs like the Copacabana and whirls in Hollywood with Sandra Dee, all done with a heady nostalgic flair. The film has a dynamic supporting cast--what's not to like about Kate Bosworth, Bob Hoskins, Brenda Blethyn, and Greta Schacchi? And Spacey can belt out the Darin songs with amazing energy and galvanizing verve.But you can't fool the camera! Being a stage actor, Mr. Spacey may have thought that a man twice as old as Darin could get away with being a teenybopper delight--distance can create that illusion. But the camera, up-close and in person, and Spacey's frame, that of an aging middle-aged man, creates an often macabre ambiance when placed next to obviously younger people. As Darin ages, Spacey fills in nicely--but it took this viewer an hour to suspend disbelief.

PippinInOz ....and as you can see by the low 2 out of 10, well, it was not at all my 'bag'.However, there is clearly an audience for this kind of post modern musical biopic. Some of you, like me, are not this audience - so if this is the case: Avoid.I genuinely admire Kevin Spacey, but for me this screams: 'Vanity Project'.What you get:Clever dick post modern stuff. The opening scene is Kevin Spacey playing Bobby Darin on stage, who is playing himself in a film biopic. Yep. One of those.Brenda Blethyn - overacting to blazes doing her Noo Joiysee shtick. Bob Hoskins, an actor I genuinely love, again being made to over act in an American film. Long musical numbers - Kevin minces it up with the best of them. Bless 'im. He is clearly enjoying himself immensely. Unfortunately, I really REALLY did not enjoy myself watching him enjoying himself. You will press the fast forward button - A LOT.I know it is deliberate (the 'calling attention to it's own artifice' of post modernity), but the entire 'stagey' stuff just leaves me colder than a day walking down Southend Pier in February.If this is your thing - watch and enjoy. Clearly, judging by the reviews here, a lot of people DO like this stuff.If it isn't - Move away Ladies and Gentlemen, ain't nothing to see here. Quite awful actually.