Comments on: Bobby Darin Was Born on This Day in 1936

By: Medusa

Medusa — Sun, 17 May 2009 02:09:44 +0000

It’s unfortunate that some reviewers called this a vanity project for Kevin Spacey. It’s surely was a pet project, but not a vanity project. A vanity project would have meant that Kevin Spacey was trying to make Kevin Spacey look good — I think he was trying to make Bobby Darin look good. Not the same thing at all.

I think I’d show the movie to the seniors, too. Just turn the sound down during that one scene if you must — the rest is too good for anybody to miss. Think of how much they’d enjoy it.

Glad to hear from other fans of this great film!

By: suzidoll

suzidoll — Sat, 16 May 2009 18:58:08 +0000

Medusa: Thanks for bringing attention to BEYOND THE SEA . It was an excellent film, with a smart narrative structure that explored the life of Bobby Darin while commenting on it. It was a unique approach to the material that is unusually complex for a musical. The fact that reviewers didn’t champion this film reveals how bankrupt and superficial current movie reviewing has become.

By: dawn

dawn — Sat, 16 May 2009 18:31:17 +0000

Hey Al
You think those seniors never heard cursing before?
Show them the movie, they’ll love it!

By: dawn

dawn — Sat, 16 May 2009 18:29:21 +0000

Desperate to see Captain Newman MD. Anybody know where/if it can be purchased?

By: Al Lowe

Al Lowe — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:28:25 +0000

I still show movies to the elderly who regularly visit a senior center at the bottom of a church. (Of course, there is no charge and no advertising.)

I’m sure they’d love to see Spacey’s Beyond the Sea but I won’t show it to them.

There’s a brief scene near the beginning when John Goodman and others playing Darin’s management team curse up a storm. I think the seniors and anyone making casual visits there would find it offensive. Not only that, the cursing is unnecessary. However, the movie is excellent; it is on my mental list of really great movies that should have been hits.

When I was growing up, I drove my family crazy playing albums by Darin, Ray Charles and Barbra Streisand. In retrospect, I think I had very good taste.

By: Barb

Barb — Fri, 15 May 2009 03:36:49 +0000

Thanks for the info and links! Saw “Beyond the Sea” and Spacey and his film deserve all the attention you gave them. Loved every moment — and the opening and closing productions are breathtaking. Happy Birthday, Bobby Darin. Please schedule a day to showcase his films…I haven’t seen any of them yet.