It’s safe to say that the musical biopic is now more popular than ever.

Not only does this genre provide plenty of real life drama as it follows the rise and fall of its famed protagonists but it provides the opportunity for a whole host of method actors to gain plaudits (and Oscar nominations) while inhabiting their subject’s persona. 

These thesps have also become quite adept at mirroring the vocal talents and style of their muse and then savour belting out their “hits” and musical “standards” in the audience friendly accompanying soundtracks. 

So enter distinguished scenery chewer Kevin Spacey as the latest to try his hand at the “much loved” biopic as he ambitiously stars as 50’s crooner Bobby Darin in his lavish but over indulgent sophomoric directorial effort Beyond The Sea.

In Beyond The Sea Spacey attempts to tell the life story of one Walden Robert Cassotto who, despite suffering a damaged heart from a juvenile bout of rheumatic fever, rises to great fame, initially as a pop idol, during the late 1950’s and early 60’s after penning and recording a string of pop classics (Splish Splash, Dream Lover and the title track.) 

But it’s the evolution rather than the genesis of this eclectic and multi-talented but relatively forgotten talent that proves to be of most interest here. 

Thus thanks to his creative drive and single mindedness the newly-monikered “Bobby Darin”  began to wow audiences of the time with his charismatic cabaret big band performances best exemplified by his trademark version of the standard “Mack The Knife” ,and thus reaching his childhood desire to be a Las Vegas staple, in which Spacey impressively begins the film with.. 

In the meantime, Darin also successfully pursued a film career, where he received a best supporting Oscar nomination for Captain Newman M.D. in 1964, and an on set courtship with and eventual marriage to screen starlet and matinee sweetheart Sandra Dee (played by the radiant Kate Bosworth.) 

It’s this topsy turvy relationship that then predictably becomes the basis for the second part of this sprawling flick as it takes a look at his fall from fame, social isolation, a stint as a 60’s protest singer and his ill health and premature death at 37.

Like most films of this ilk proceedings do tend to become somewhat episodic, despite the director’s attempt to tell this story in a non-linear fashion, but where Spacey fares best in this ambitious “labour of Love” is the impressive art direction, cinematography and music sequences which unashamedly harkens back to the old fashioned style musical which should delight fans of the era. 

But it’s this glitzy and naive superficiality, rather than  the “warts and all” style of the superior Ray, that deprives audiences of gaining a deep insight into the man and his relationships. 

And while Spacey, himself expertly embodies expertly his real-life idol and sings and swoons impressively his distinguished supporting cast, which includes Brenda Blethyn as devoted mum Polly, Bob Hoskins, John Goodman and Greta Scacchi, all tend to ham it up in their over the top caricatures. 

As a result Beyond The Sea, despite its visual treats, is unlikely to attract the audience plaudits or magnitude of recent heavyweights like Walk The Line thanks to the relative anonymity of the subject matter and Spacey’s admirable but not entirely successful All That Jazz/De-lovely -esque surreal flourishes.