Midas Man movie review and Midas Man where to watch in USA

Don’t let the trailer of Midas Man fool you! I admit that when I first saw the trailer for this new movie about The Beatles’ manager, Brian Epstein, I wasn’t very impressed. The accents and mannerisms of the actors portraying Brian and The Beatles did not seem accurate. I felt I would have a hard time buying into this movie about Brian’s relationship with The Fab Four.

But after watching the first 10 minutes of the film, I was able to accept Jacob Fortune-Lloyd’s aggressive portrayal of Epstein, even though it seemed opposite of the real Brian’s laid-back and demure personality. Like any quality film, if the dialogue, plot and spirit of the movie is authentic and engaging, you can usually overlook details like how accurate an accent is. I also chose to accept the fact that the actor portraying John Lennon (Jonah Lee) was too short to play John, but he still did a good job. 

That’s because the heart of the movie, including the subtle humor of The Beatles, seemed to do an accurate job of conveying what it was like behind the scenes of The Beatles phenomenon in the early days. In truth, behind the mania, life was not as glamorous as you would expect. There were several slow parts in the film that reflected this. However, this realistic pace may not appeal to film goers unless they are heavily invested in The Beatles’ story. The slow parts are accepted when you understand the respect to Beatles history displayed in the script written by Brigit Grant.

There are, unfortunately, a few confusing facts with the timeline of the film. The plot follows Brian’s relationship with The Beatles strictly from meeting them in late 1961 until his death in August 1967. The key points in the Beatles career are on the mark, but the chronology is muddied when the year is flashed on the screen as a graphic after events that are portrayed that same year. For example, the year “1962” is flashed on the screen after the scene where Ringo has joined the group, which took place in August 1962. Similarly, the year “1963” is flashed on the screen after The Beatles’ third single, “From Me To You”, becomes their first number one hit in the UK in May 1963.

A surprising gem is the portrayal of Paul McCartney by Blake Richardson. Blake exhibits the cuteness and charm of an early 20s Paul McCartney. He, along with John (Jonah Lee), both sing in the film. As I was watching, I thought, it’s a shame Blake couldn’t be cast in Sam Mendes’ upcoming 4 Beatles movies scheduled for 2028. 

Campbell Wallace did a good job as Ringo, but the physical portrayal of George Harrison left much to be desired. Leo Harvey-Elledge did a good job of showcasing George’s personality, but it was hard to recognize since his Beatle wig was so fake-looking. The actor’s prosthetics also emphasized George’s mouth of crowded teeth, which, in my opinion, resulted in an unfair and unattractive portrayal of the quiet Beatle.

One important fact to know is that Midas Man did not get the rights to perform original Beatles songs in the film. So don’t be surprised when The Beatles are singing only cover songs throughout the movie, like at the 1963 Royal Command Performance. But the cover songs, like “Money,” are performed well, and are a refreshing change to songs you expect to hear in a film about The Beatles.

Of course, the star of this film is Brian Epstein, while The Beatles play a secondary role. Midas Man illustrates the personal issues Epstein faced as a gay man, as well as pushback from his family when he decided to become the manager of a rock band — something he had no experience in doing. In the film, even his assistant, Alistair Taylor, was questioning Brian’s passion for The Beatles. The only one who never gave up on the group was Brian, and that is accurately conveyed in the film. 

It really is amazing to think how quickly Brian got The Beatles a record deal. He achieved this in less than a year of being their manager. Not only that, he orchestrated their dominance of American culture by negotiating their appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and insisting on a massive marketing campaign in the US by Capitol Records. There’s always been a debate as to whether Elvis would have been as famous as he became without Colonel Parker. But with Brian Epstein, there is no debate. The difference is Elvis already had a record deal when he met Parker. However, nobody wanted to sign The Beatles. Without Epstein, it is highly doubtful that The Beatles would have ever gotten out of Liverpool.

Fun fact: Did you know that Jay Leno has a small role in Midas Man? He plays Ed Sullivan!

All in all, I would recommend this film to Beatles enthusiasts who appreciate the history of The Beatles story. However, I’m not sure the film would hold the attention of the 1 hour and 52 minutes length for the general public. This film provides the sometimes unglamorous and unique perspective of Brian Epstein’s role in Beatles history, and why he was deserving of the honor to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. — TY

Where to watch Midas Man in the US

It’s a shame that this film could not get mainstream distribution in the US, because there are many Beatles fans who would like to see the movie if they only knew where to find it. In the UK, the film is available on Amazon Prime. However, in the US, Beatles fans have to go on what seems like an archeological hunt to figure out how to watch the film.

Midas Man is currently not available on any of the mainstream streaming services. The only way to watch it is by purchasing it through the independent streaming service called Olyn, for the price of $11.97. (CLICK HERE)

In January 2025, the film was released in the US on DVD/Blu-ray. (CLICK HERE)

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