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In Hollywood, pet projects can metamorphize into ungainly vanity pieces at the flip of a switch. While Beyond the Sea features Kevin Spacey in virtually every single scene, it quickly becomes clear that this is not just a case of a well-known actor trying to wedge himself into the spotlight; Spacey clearly has a distinct respect and affection for the memory of old-school crooner Bobby Darin, and that emotion virtually pours from the screen in buckets.

While surviving an illness-intensive childhood with the help from his doting mother, loving sister and goofy brother-in-law, Walden Robert Cassotto grew up with a deep passion for the performing arts. Singing, dancing, comedy...you name it. Despite being warned that he probably wouldn't live past adolescence, Robert bucked the odds and made a beeline for the lounge circuit once he was old enough to get past the bouncers.

Thus begins the short but fascinating adventure of Mr. Bobby ("Mack the Knife") Darin, the details of which may seem familiar to those with an affection for movie-style biopics, but Spacey (the director) gives Spacey (the actor) a whole lot of amusing stuff to do. Those who've just settled in for a traditional sort of cinematic biography may be pleasantly surprised with a street full of Bobby's New York neighbors kick in with a rousing little musical number. And if you enjoyed that one, just sit back and relax, because Spacey frequently interrupts his narrative with a variety of upbeat song and dance sequences. These scenes repeatedly jam a shot of adrenalin into a movie that could very easily have muddled into treacle town.

Another somewhat unique conceit is how Spacey, playing the middle-aged Bobby D., will sometimes speak directly to the young Robert Cassotto, which helps to offer a little more insight into the man while also bridging the movie's "present" and "past" quite cleverly.

As far as the onscreen Spacey is concerned, heck. I suppose I'll just have to throw myself upon the fandom sword. Barring a few of his post-Oscar performances, I consider Kevin Spacey one of the best actors working today. Period. While that wouldn't stop me from being critical if necessary, it also makes me a bit more predisposed towards giving K.S. the benefit of the doubt when many others may not. Basically, Kevin Spacey does not really look or sound like Bobby Darin...at all. But honestly, who cares? Better to have an actor compelled by respect and admiration than to have an actor who simply "looks" the part.

What Spacey may lack in physical similarity, he more than makes up for in showmanship. The actor approaches this beloved role with a spring in his step, a song in his heart, and a cocksure confidence that's all but entirely appealing. Plus, and this should be a surprise to those who know Mr. Spacey only from his most high-profile movie roles, this guy can actually sing! And dance! Well! So you can either sit there with your arms folded, muttering about the obvious physical discrepancies between Bobby and Kevin, or you can overlook the surface stuff and begin to appreciate an actor who's working really hard on something that's clearly important to him.

Spacey has a good eye for the supporting roles: we get great supporting performances from the likes of John Goodman, Bob Hoskins and Greta Scacchi, plus the plum role of Mrs. Bobby Darin (a.k.a. Sandra Dee) goes to the severely lovely and surprisingly talented Kate Bosworth. (Yes, she's a bit young to be playing the wife of a Kevin Spacey character, but movies are, y'know, not the real thing. Plus Bosworth really fits the role quite perfectly.)

Due to its fractured framework and musical inspirations, Beyond the Sea will undoubtedly be compared to the Cole Porter flick De-Lovely from a few months back. But while the Porter story was portentous and more than a little dreary, Beyond the Sea crackles with commitment and all but oozes affection for its subject matter. There are so many ways that Spacey could have delivered a dud here, but that just goes to show what a healthy dose of sincerity can do for a film.

Sure, the movie does stumble over a few of those oh-so-familiar biopic speed bumps, but on the whole "Beyond the Sea" flies a lot more than it falls. Spacey deserves a round of applause for risking some real ridicule with this project, to say nothing of the fact that he turned out a pretty damn good movie overall.

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originally posted: 09/27/04 17:39:16
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