Midas Man * * * ½

 

"The Beatles? Never heard of them, but I'll look into it."

Midas Man is the story of Brian Epstein who was the manager of The Beatles.  Such was the stature of The Beatles most fans even knew who was behind them.  Some called him the fifth Beatle.  

The film frequently uses the strategy of Brian Epstein talking directly to us before we plunge into the scene.  I don't think actor Jacob Fortune-Lloyd looks very much like Brian Epstein, but he captures his voice and mannerisms and does a good job.  

Equally impressive is the convincing re-creation of time and place.

Epstein was working in the family furniture shop in Liverpool in the early 1960's when he discovered The Beatles.  Midas Man does not show much of his life prior to that.  As the son of the shop owner (Eddie Marsan) he was given more leeway than any other manager might have been given, and it is just as well, as his obsession with starting a record bar in the store was hugely successful

After learning about The Beatles from his assistant Alistair Taylor, Epstein visited the rock club The Cavern to see them play.  Midas Man nicely captures that life changing, magic moment of Epstein being struck by the energy and potential of The Beatles.

Eddie Izzard does a good turn as Alan Williams, The Beatles first uncontracted "manager" who gave them away, telling Epstein "You can have 'em", and Rosie Day is very good as Cilla Black, another great talent that Epstein discovered.

Important legendary moments are included: The signing of their first contract, the painful sacking of The Beatles first drummer Pete Best, the demanding tours, the Ed Sullivan show appearance, the "more popular than Christ" controversy, and the upset in The Philippines.

The cheeky banter between The Beatles and Brian Epstein is well played, and the actors who play The Beatles are pretty good look-alikes.

It does well in showing Epstein's dedication and determination as he visited London and went from label to label trying to get a recording contract for The Beatles, and finally persuading producer George Martin (another person frequently referred to as The Fifth Beatle), who agreed to record six songs to see how they go.

Epstein had a challenging life. He was Jewish and he was gay. Being gay could get you imprisoned in Britain in the early sixties and in the film we see him having the odd skirmish and very close shave as he seeks some sexual satisfaction in the back streets of Liverpool and London.

I did not know about his unprincipled lover Tex Speers who appears later when they are touring America, and in that respect the film conveys information which was new to me.  

Although he never forgot his responsibilities to the talent he was managing, Epstein is portrayed as taking more  than a few drugs himself, to the point where he had to go into rehab.  But rather than recreational, it was mostly to do with pressure and anxiety due to his closeted sexuality and the dreadful hours he worked. 

Following the end of touring, The Beatles went on to greater things but the film does not show much in regard to that: Seargent Peppers doesn't even get a mention.

No Beatles originals are played in this film either: Only some of the cover versions they did. Something about obtaining rights.  But again, remember Midas Man is not a film about The Beatles, it's about Brian Epstein and in that respect it's pretty good.