CORPORATE LINE: The boundless imagination of the man behind “Peter Pan” and the poignancy of his journey combine in this emotional tale inspired by events in the life of Scottish author James Mathew Barrie. In FINDING NEVERLAND, director Marc Forster (“Monster’s Ball”) and an accomplished cast including Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Dustin Hoffman and Julie Christie take a fictional look at the creation of “Peter Pan,” the classic of children’s literature that speaks directly to the child in all of us. FINDING NEVERLAND traverses both fantasy and everyday reality, melding the difficulties and heartbreak of adult life with the spellbinding allure and childlike innocence of the boy who never grows up.
It all begins as successful Scottish playwright J.M. Barrie (DEPP) watches his latest play open to a ho-hum reaction among the polite society of Edwardian England. A literary genius of his times but bored by the same old themes, Barrie is clearly in need of some serious inspiration. Unexpectedly, he finds it one day during his daily walk with his St. Bernard Porthos in London’s Kensington Gardens. There, Barrie encounters the Llewelyn Davies family: four fatherless boys and their beautiful, recently widowed mother (WINSLET).
Despite the disapproval of the boys’ steely grandmother Emma du Maurier (CHRISTIE) and the resentment of his own wife (RADHA MITCHELL), Barrie befriends the family, engaging the boys in tricks, disguises, games and sheer mischief, creating play-worlds of castles and kings, cowboys and Indians, pirates and castaways. He transforms hillsides into galleon ships, sticks into mighty swords, kites into enchanted fairies and the Llewelyn Davies boys into “The Lost Boys of Neverland.”
From the sheer thrills and adventurousness of childhood will come Barrie’s most daring and renowned masterwork, “Peter Pan.” At first, his theatrical company is skeptical. While his loyal producer Charles Frohman (HOFFMAN) worries he’ll lose his shirt on this children’s fantasy, Barrie begins rehearsals only to shock his actors with such unprecedented requests as asking them to fly across the stage, talk to fairies made out of light and don dog and crocodile costumes.
Then, just as Barrie is ready to introduce the world to “Peter Pan,” a tragic twist of fate will make the writer and those he loves most understand just what it means to really believe.
THE MOVIE: There is a reason Johnny Depp was nominated for an Oscar in his role as Barrie. Depp is brilliant even as he tends to be modest and gentle. This is perhaps his most touching moments as an actor to date. Depp is perfect as the man who is truly a lost little boy looking for something to hold on to. Depp even nails the Scottish accent.
There is a sexual chemistry between Barrie and Sylvia and what makes this truly powerful is the fact that it’s never acted upon—at least not in the movie. That would have spoiled the fun and the romance of the narrative.
DVD FEATURES: The featurette “The Magic of Finding Neverland” is nothing short of a promo for the film. There is some content that is interesting however there could have been more about the film included. “Creating Neverland” is only a couple of minutes and is a waste.
The outtakes are actually a lot of fun. Johnny Depp and Dustin Hoffman really show that they aren’t all work and no play as both mess around and burst out laughing. The deleted scenes don’t need explanation as to why they were left behind.
There is a commentary with director Marc Forster, producer, Richard Gladstein, and writer David Magee. Finally a group of individuals who actually sound interested in what they’ve created. They never sound as if they are going through the motions. You believe they loved making this movie. The commentary tends to go more in-depth than the featurettes—they even discuss Barrie and the rumors that surrounded his life.
FRANKLY: Depp is brilliant as Barrie and made an average film great. Finding Neverland is certainly a fantastic movie however not on the level of Million Dollar Baby or Ray.
+ Charlie Craine
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