|
|
The real deal. |
Posted on 01/08/2005 11:24:29 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
My husband and I saw a movie last night that I would like to recommend to members of FreeRepublic as a break from the often overwhelmingly grim news of the day (Iraq, Indonesia). The movie is "Beyond The Sea", PG-13, the biopic of Bobby Darin, singer, composer, showman.
This movie is simply outstanding and deserves to be seen in a theater with surround sound -- please don't wait for the DVD.
Kevin Spacey wrote it, directed it, produced it, and stars in it; and he is fabulous. But -- equally fabulous is the rest of the cast -- John Goodman, William Ullrich, Bob Hoskins and others whose names I do not remember, but whose characters I'll never forget.
One of the most intriguing things about the movie is the unusual way in which it is crafted. Through a series of flash backs and flash forwards, the child (Darin) narrates the story at breakneck speed through the adult Darin's short, but highly accomplished, life. And it's all believable!
Kevin Spacey does all his own singing and dancing in this flick, and I defy anyone to claim that it is not Darin himself up on the screen. Spacey is simply perfect in the role! And he is supported by an outstanding cast who are also perfect in their characterizations.
The child who plays Darin in his youth is terrific, gradually ramping up his performance from shy/tentative to a glorius climax that makes you want to shout, "A star is born!" at the end. I think the little boy's name is William Ullrich -- Ullrich for sure, not certain about the William part. Anyhow, look for him in the future.
Spacey's writing and directing skillfully plays on your emotions, switching directions every time the story starts to get too sad. You wind up fully appreciating the brief time we enjoyed Darin's talent in our midst, rather than heartbroken that he died so young.
My husband and I are still humming tunes from the movie today, and we'll probably go see it again. It was THAT good.
There were about 3 bad words in the whole movie and one unpleasant argument scene between Darin and Sandra Dee. (They make up quickly.) Nothing any worse than what children see on TV every day. Yet, it was a very sophisticated presentation and one the the whole family will enjoy.
Who knew Spacey could sing and dance?
Splish, Splash!
"John Goodman" bump.
I rarely go to movies, but this is one I will probably go see. I was a little young when he died, but I've seen some specials on him and he had a very interesting life. Kevin Spacey was on AMC talking about the other week and it really seems good.
I can't wait and I'm going to look at my local movie directory in about ...............four seconds.
Why would one wish to go to a movie theater and pay what it costs for the DVD to get in, to sit in a cramped seat that is usually sticky and dirty, get charged a small fortune for stale popcorn and flat Pepsi and watch it listening to some crapy surround sound system?
There is no comparison to seeing a great film shown on a true wide screen instead of viewing it on something smaller than the side of a mini-van.
Because the movie theater has huge speakers and the music the most important element of this film. The music, dancing, and images just encompass you and make you part of the story.
Don't buy the popcorn. Can't you go anywhere without eating constantly? What do you do when you go to the live theater? They don't let you eat there.
And my neighborhood movie theater has plush seats arranged in "stadium" style seating (steep ramp) so that nothing obscures your view. They are immaculate. I got a double seat all to myself last night (a love seat) because my knee is bothering me and I wanted to stretch it out and support it on a little pillow. It was very comfortable. But the movie was so good that I quickly forgot all about the painful knee.
Thanks for the reminder to go see that film. A few weeks back, Kevin Spacey played in our little local theater to a sold-out crowd, singing Darin songs with a 15 piece band. He was fabulous! I went out of curiosity, not being a Spacey fan but liking Darin's classics. You could literally feel the anticipation in the audience before he started singing - "Can he really sing like Bobby Darin?" He started out with "Hello Young Lovers" and everyone was amazed. The third song was "Mack the Knife" and by that time, he had convinced the crowd completely. It was like time travel back to a cool club of the early 1960's.
|
|
The real deal. |
"There is no comparison to seeing a great film shown on a true wide screen instead of viewing it on something smaller than the side of a mini-van."
The last theater I went to was in Columbus Ohio it had stadium seating and supposedly Dolby Digital sound (The speakers and sound equipment were set up so badly that you could here a digital echo from the rear speakers for the entire show) The popcorn sucked, the prices were outrageous and most of the other movie watchers were kids who were there to talk rather than watch a movie.
There is no comparison seeing a movie at my house and just about any theater you can come up with. I have 6.1 Dolby digital sound (Also DTS) on two of my TVs one 52 inch JVC HD-ILA and the other is a 60 inch Mitsubishi HD DLP and we are currently adding a HD Projection system that will be shown on a 12 ft wide retractable screen that will go in the living room. (Also will be linked to a 6.1 Dolby digital system.)
Theaters are on the wain. I can have better equipment in my home and watch it on my schedule with many more features available. And I make better popcorn!
However, most movies I see are not the ones attended to by kids talking. And either my theatre set up their speakers correctly or I have a tin ear. For me anyway, I love being at a theatre. Until I hit the lottery and build a theatre like yours in my home I'm stuck going to the local CineMax.
Any chance you'll have IMAX soon?
Bah, Huge speakers mean nothing, Good Speakers mean everything. I bet my sound system sounds better thatn 90% of the theaters in the US and I guarantee you it is not all that special. It is just set up properly and tuned to the seating areas. Few theaters are actually tuned and even if they are they are usually tuned while empty which means they usuallly are not optimized for a normal veiwing audience.
"And my neighborhood movie theater has plush seats arranged in "stadium" style seating (steep ramp) so that nothing obscures your view."
Im my apartment all the viewing areas have very comfortable couches and chairs and recliners and the snackbar doesn't charge outrageous prices. No crying babies, no loud talkers or cell phone users interupting. And, if you got to go to the bathroom you can just hit pause.
Here's the rest of the cast:
Kevin Spacey .... Bobby Darin
Kate Bosworth .... Sandra Dee
John Goodman .... Steve Blauner
Bob Hoskins .... Charlie Cassotto Maffia
Brenda Blethyn .... Polly Cassotto
Greta Scacchi .... Mary Duvan
Caroline Aaron .... Nina Cassotto Maffia
Peter Cincotti .... Dick Behrke
Michael Byrne .... Dr. Andretti
Matt Rippy .... David Gershenson
Gary Whelan .... Jules Podell
William Ullrich .... Little Bobby
Jake Broder .... 1st Assistant Director
Tayfun Bademsoy .... Ahmet Ertegun
Tomas Spencer .... Delivery Guy
Suit yourself.
How can you not remember Kate Bosworth?!
Shameless movie plug! This movie was so good -- and apprpriate for almost every member of the family, except for very little children who might be frightened by one parental argument between Darin and Dee.
The audience was so small last night at the Northshore Cinema that I would hate for this movie to leave town before everyone gets to see it.
And do see it in a movie theater. The music is the most important element of the film and the surround sound speakers make all the difference, despite what Mad Dawgg says. LOL.
Actually it is not all that expensive to do.
First figure up ho much you spend at the movies in a month. (We were avid movie-goers at the very least it was twice a month usually more)
OK, you can get an HD Projector for about 1100 dollars. ( I've seen some for as little as 800) A decent Dolby digital sound system is about the same (I got more in mine but I am an home electronics nut) you can get an 8 foot HD Projection screen for two hundred bucks, cables, DVD player and all you can get everything you need for 2500 bucks even less if you shop carefully.
This equipment will last you five years easy proably much longer.
That's 42 dollars a month over 5 years for your own state of the art home theater system. Netflix is 17.50 a month and you can get about 8 to 15 movies a month depending on how quick you watch and return them.
Do you spend 60 bucks a month at the movie theater. On average we did and we decided we could wait until the movies came out on DVD to watch.
I'm sorry about that. I originally cited Kate Bosworth and then I thought that maybe I had the name wrong so I took her off the list.
Bosworth's portrayal of Sandra Dee was spectaculor. My only criticism was of her hair in the scenes supposedly shot in Italy. She had touseled hair. I don't remember Dee ever wearing her hair in any manner other than a perfectly teased and sprayed pageboy like she wore in the honeymoon scene. But, I probably didn't see most of her movies either.
I happen to think that Kate Bosworth is incredibly beautiful.
2 senior tickets = $11.50. No popcorn or soda. Save my money to spend at a restaurant afterward. Geting away from the demands of the house, phone, office -- priceless!
There are not enough good movies out there to spend $60/month, although I have seen 2 movies in the last month. The Aviator was good too, but quite different from Beyond the Sea.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
