Midas Man

My Review - Midas Man In Cinemas now My Rating 8/10

It's been a little while since any movie showing at the Cinema has caught my attention enough to make the effort of going to see it on the big screen.

Midas Man certainly was worth the effort I found it entertaining surprisingly moving and so well written, directed and acted .

This story depicts the early meteoric rise to fame of the Beatles known as the Fab Four from Liverpool with an emphasis on Brian Epstein their first Manager who saw something in this now legendary group of musicians that no one else could see .

If Brian Epstein had not managed ,groomed and promoted The Beatles they probably would have gone unnoticed .

Epstein not only introduced the Beatles to the world as well as Cilla Black , Gerry and the Pacemakers and many more performers. Epstein also helped put their U. K. hometown Liverpool on the World map by introducing The Mersey Sound which heralded in the 1960's that influenced changing musical tastes and fashion forever.

Unlike Elvis Presley's manipulative manager Colonel Tom Parker Brian Epstein kept his promise to John Lennon when he said if I manage this group you won't find anyone else in the business who would devote more time or effort to make the Beatles the most famous band on earth.

Brian Epstein is played so well by Jacob Fortune -Lloyd a fine actor who manages to capture the emotional turmoil that plagued Brian Epstein who had to hide his homosexuality at a time when gay men lived daily with the prospect of imprisonment and blackmail .

His public professional persona was of a successful eventually very wealthy promoter and entrepreneur but his private life was at times chaotic and dangerous eventually leading to his premature death at only 32 years old .

This is a very interesting movie I enjoyed the theatrical technique of breaking the fourth wall when Epstein occasionally talks to the audience it's very effective in this instance.

I also enjoyed the performances of the supporting cast that includes Emily Watson who plays Malka Epstein ,Brian's protective and supportive mother and Eddie Marsan as Harry the father that Brian Epstein longed for approval and acceptance but never really received.

Jonah Lees is very impressive as John Lennon he has some great scenes as does Darci Shaw as Cilla Black and Blake Richardson as Paul McCartney.

Congratulations to Director Joe Stephenson and writers Brigit Grant and Jonathan Wakeham on creating such an interesting and entertaining movie .

The timeframe of this movie takes place over only six years from Brian Epstein first discovering the Beatles in 1961 minus Ringo in the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool to the groundbreaking Beatles " Our World " first live Satellite performance on June 25th 1967 which reached over 400 million viewers across 25 countries.

Six months later Brian Epstein tragically was found dead but he certainly did keep his promise and loyalty to The Beatles who by then had eclipsed Elvis Presley's fame and their legacy stands today with a song book of hits that have been performed by every great singing artist from a time when music and lyrics came first and live performers performed without gimmicks cgi or lip syncing.

I'll be interested in seeing the upcoming Sam Mendes Beatles biopic which apparently has the rights to use more of the Beatles music than Midas Man was able to feature but as the emphasis is on Brian Epstein the man it doesn't matter.

The story of Brian Epstein is a fascinating story, and I'm afraid this film disappoints. The breaking of the fourth wall works in some films, but not this one. I didn't mind Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Brian, but Jay Leno as Ed Sullivan was a terrible choice. I thought the actors playing The Beatles were OK , except John Lennon was way too short. It was off putting.

I think most people who will watch this film would be aware of The Beatles, so their story didn't have to be told. It was Brian Epsein's story, and I don't believe his story was told. I have been waiting years for someone to make decent biopic about Brian Epstein, and I guess I'll have to keep waiting.

I enjoyed the film the whole way through. It's a more calm film compared to other biopics but that feels fitting with Brian being backstage compared to the Beatles. It's interesting having the Beatles be more background/side characters, not a take we've really gotten to see before.

Jacob Fortune-Lloyd is excellent in it and I thought the actors playing the Beatles really caught their essence, although maybe not so much Ringo, but that may have just been down to him looking least like his character.

Having not known the story of Brian Epstein before, I'm so glad that his story is being told and the remarkable man that he was is being honoured.

I've been a Brian Epstein fan for as long as I've been a Beatles fan so I was in part dreading this movie as much as I was looking forward to it . What I would say to anyone who is thinking of watching is give it a go. Not a perfect film by a long chalk, but they've managed to capture authenticity in abundance. JFL absolutely nails the lead role, he's genuinely a star in the making but the supporting roles seem really well thought out too. I had heard ( being a super fan) that there was trouble with the production, you'd never guess. I'd have liked a five hour tv series with the same production values as this film, that would have done Brian justice but as a film and a one off it's more than decent.

I know people who were there and I absolutely can't wait for them to see this on the big screen hopefully, although as I understand atm in the UK it's going straight to Amazon? That's a shame, I was lucky enough to see it on the big screen and maybe I'm biased but it's one of the most enjoyable films I've seen in months. The one thing no one can disagree with is Brian was loved and he should ge remembered as such. A bonafide legend. Go and watch this, download it or buy the dvd ( are they still a thing?) .

I was apprehensive about this film as a huge Beatles fan & I personally know people who worked with Brian Epstein.

But I thought the performance by Jacob was excellent. He captured every little nuance of Brian's character.

Eddie was great as Brian's dad Harry.

Emily as Malka was a bit weaker.

The film was also well written & it captured Brians life well.

Though I think his death & body discovery could have been played out on screen, it would have been more personal.

The costumes were perfect and captured Brian's fastidious fashion sense.

Only disappointment was John Lennon was way too short.