Beyond the Sea | 
| Actors: Caroline Aaron, Tayfun Bademsoy, Brenda Blethyn, Kate Bosworth, Marcus Brigstocke
Studio: Lions Gate
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy Used: $0.90
You Save: $14.08 (94%)
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Rating:  192 reviews
Sales Rank: 15389
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd, Widescreen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 118 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: LGED17231D
UPC: 031398172314
EAN: 0031398172314
ASIN: B00094ARN2
Theatrical Release Date: December 29, 2004
Release Date: June 7, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Riveting story of booby darin - a real american idol! Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 05/23/2006 Starring: Kevin Spacey John Goodman Run time: 118 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Kevin Spacey
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
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| Customer Reviews: Read 187 more reviews...
 Way beyond the sea February 17, 2009
Desiree (Missouri, USA)
Kevin Spacey delivers a phenomenal performance in portraying one of America's greatest singing icons. Mr Spacey radiates sensational talent that appears natural and with ease, along with an entire great supporting cast, including the youngster that stars as "Little Bobby", William Ullrich. A standing ovation for everyone on this one is well deserved.
This movie is done with such class (in reflection of Bobby of course); Instead of sending you away in tears over such loss, it definitely has a way of leaving you with a smile and remembering what remains :).
Thank you Kevin Spacey (who also wrote, directed, and produced) and a job well done!
With all that said, I always thought it was so sad that time was cut extremely too short for such an incredible human being as Bobby Darin. Rest in peace Bobby, you are one that's gone but truly never forgotten.
A Divine Piece Of Musical Cinema January 31, 2009
Steven Stewart (steveo.stewart@hotmail.co.uk)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Being a fan of the swing era and in particular Darin I couldn't wait to see this movie when I first heard about it being made. Knowing about the people involved, what story it had to tell and the format it would take I just knew this would be amazing from the first minute to the last. Kevin Spacey is currently the finest actor to ever grace the silver screen, and he will go down in history as one of the finest to ever grace it. Bobby Darin in contrast was one of the finest singers of the great musical generation, was basically the first ever teen idol and has definitely gone down in history as one of the most entertaining and charismatic singers of the swing generation.
Before the film had even come to the screens, there was constant talk about whether Spacey was too old to play the part being 45 at the time and playing Bobby from his early to later career. In some respects it may be true that Kevin may have been too old to play the part, but he certainly put my fears to rest. The opening sequence of the film is an elongated introduction to the legendary song of "Mack The Knife" in which we're instantly introduced to Spacey as Darin making his way to the stage. The minute Spacey hits the stage, grabs the mic and engages the audience of actors you know that he was born to play Darin.
The story quite simply focuses around the life of Bobby Darin starting off modestly in his childhood when being taught the piano and to sing by his Mother, then growing into becoming the star he is. At the age of 8 Darin overheard a doctor tell his mother that he (Darin) would be lucky to see 16 years of age, so he lived in constant fear of his own mortality and developed high determination to live his short life to the fullest. Throughout the story we come to see the people he met that changed his life forever, especially his first wife Sandra Dee (Kate Bosworth).
Being a Biopic Musical is something you don't regularly see, but when it does come around it certainly is an experience and this is made all the better with Spacey doing his musical performances. I honestly didn't realise that Spacey had such vocal talent, but the mimicry of all of Darins mannerisms are certainly something special. The dialect, the movements, the charisma and the aura are all expressed superbly throughout the film. In effect Spacey overshadows the entire supporting cast with his truly outstanding performance throughout. I'm not sure why but Spacey seemed to put that little bit extra into this performance, whether it was to prove the critics wrong or whether it was to do Darin justice I simply don't know, but what I do know is that it was wonderful.
Mentioning the supporting cast, there are certainly a few big names in there such as John Goodman as Darins manager, Bob Hoskins as his sisters husband and of course Kate Bosworth as the fabulous Sandra Dee. A special mention should go to William Ullrich as he plays a young Bobby Darin and actually performs a few musical duets with Spacey within the film. He's a delightful kid and very talented and possibly the only one not to be overshadowed by Spacey's presence.
Overall I would advise you all to ignore the negative critics on this one and at least give it a chance. Of course, if you don't like it then, then at least you can say "well I gave it a shot and it just didn't work for me." This isn't a film for everyone because of its subject and its format as some simply aren't fans of musicals, but judge each film on its merit that's what I say.
Great Movie January 3, 2009
Niamh (Denver, CO)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Exquisite movie. My dad had a memory lapse at blockbuster's a few months ago and spend about an hour mulling through the videos hoping he'd run into this movie. He was so excited about it, he wouldn't give us info to help him find it, as he wanted it to be a surprise. To give him credit, he was searching for the title "The Bobby Darin Story". So I found the movie on amazon and he held onto it for everyone to watch together by a lit fire, with a full stomach on Christmas night. "Beyond the Sea" was the perfect movie for such a night.
Beyond the Sea November 6, 2008
S. Strang
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Movie arrived in great condition. I enjoyed the movie VERY much. It took me back to a time that was great in my life!!
 enjoyable October 21, 2008
Lisa R. Golden (Columbia, SC USA)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
The movie was enjoyable. However, I wish I had known it had Spanish sub-titles before I bought it as a gift for my mother.
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