Film Review: 'Midas Man'
Meet Brian Epstein, a man who lived a thousand lives within just a few years—a visionary who reshaped music history.
The story of The Beatles can be told a thousand times in a thousand ways. But there’s only one story for Brian Epstein.
With Midas Man, we’re catapulted into a vision that for the moment, lets us see for one of the few times on film, the complex and driven personality of the band’s cheerleader, dogmatic visionary, and manager. The story is linear and biographical, but the history has been buffed and condensed into something that in many instances, portrays his mercurial personality as both admirable and devastatingly tragic.
To note, this is not “a Beatles story,” although the band is featured prominently, given the circumstances. Rather, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd is front and center — and at 6’2” he commands the screen — as the first person to be taken with the scruffy upstarts and realize their potential beyond the dank cellar of the Cavern Club. In fact, it’s probably wise not to bring in too much criticism of the actors portraying the band, as it clearly and has historically proved troublesome for those who are firmly entrenched backward and forwards with previous visual narratives.
Fortune-Lloyd is also not an exact replica of Epstein, but his composure and tone are worthy of praise. The film uses several instances of the actor breaking the fourth wall, addressing the viewer on notable points of history to move the plotline along. This includes the introduction of the family, with Eddie Marsan as furniture shop owner and patriarch Harry Epstein and Emily Watson portraying his mother ‘Queenie’ with a deft touch and a motherly understanding soul.
Eddie Marsan and Emily Watson as Harry and ‘Queenie’ Epstein in Midas Man/©Mister Smith/studio pow/Treavor Beattie Films
The cinematic direction from Joe Stephenson and period set design are outstanding, embracing a golden sunset and ethereal quality that paints the overall picture in that long-ago and faraway melody we’re all familiar with. That’s not to say the film doesn’t have its moments of humor. With a screenplay by Brigit Grant and Jonathan Wakeham, there is authenticated dialogue illustrating Epstein’s first meeting with the band at a lunchtime gig in November 1961. As he stammers and strains to elucidate his praise, the four boys recognize and gently mock his well-tailored delivery and clothing.
Speaking of the actors representing The Beatles, more of the focus is (obviously) placed on Jonah Lees as John Lennon. He’s nailed the look, feel and accent — however, his slight stature at 5’8” looks out-of-place next to Fortune-Lloyd. Blake Richardson as Paul McCartney benefits from his work as a full-fledged musician in the band New Hope Club. Leo Harvey-Elledge gives George Harrison a nice lanky edge and Campbell Wallace as Ringo Starr gives his performance some heart and soul. To boot, Lees, Richardson and Harvey-Elledge also sing in their respective roles — and no, there are no original songs (due to, reasons = $$$).
What is most noticeable are the characters, known and unknown, that get to drop some worthy bon mots around Epstein’s musical orbit. Eddie Suzy Izzard is memorable in their limited screen time as the Beatles ‘first’ manager Allan Williams. James Corrigan lends a slice of real New York as Epstein’s business partner Nat Weiss and Darci Shaw is incandescent in her portrayal of Cilla Black. As one of the few people who knows the ‘real’ Epstein and the thin veneer of hiding his homosexuality from the public as his (and The Beatles) profiles start to blow up, her honesty and grit shine bright.
Darci Shaw as Cilla Black singing “You’re My World” in Midas Man/©Mister Smith/studio pow/Treavor Beattie Films
Addressing Epstein’s gay lifestyle is not glossed over and in fact, was one of the defining traits of his life. Twenty minutes into the film, an Epstein hook-up is interrupted and further, he is robbed at knifepoint at another clandestine meeting. But during his initial trip to New York, he meets “Tex” Ellington (Ed Speleers), a less-than-minor actor that eventually leads to a questionable love affair. Based on this real-life encounter, events transpire at The Beatles last show at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park on August 29, 1966, as Ellington takes off with Epstein’s briefcase, filled with contracts, pills, and $20,000 in cash. Epstein — devastated — misses the last ever Beatles concert, and spirals into depression.
The film’s epilogue concludes with his father Harry’s death and the live broadcast of “All You Need is Love” for the Our World programme on June 25, 1967. Epstein died on August 27 from an accidental overdose at his Chapel Street residence in London. He was 32.
With Midas Man, we’re given an appreciation for someone who was many things to many people: a loving son, a passionate believer in the underdog, and an emotionally starved individual who couldn’t find personal happiness despite having worked himself — and The Beatles — to the pinnacle of worldwide stardom. He was consumed by insecurities, yet lavished his attention on those who needed him. For that, it’s plain to see he was part of something much larger than even he could ever have imagined.
Epstein died August 27, 1967.