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Finding
Neverland
Genre: Drama
Rated: PG
Directed by: MARC FOSTER
Written by: DAVID MAGEE, based
on the play by ALLAN KNEE
Starring: JOHNNY DEPP, KATE WINSLET, JULIE CHRISTIE, RADHA
MITCHELL, DUSTIN HOFFMAN, FREDDIE HIGHMORE
Released by: Miramax Pictures
In
Short: In “Finding Neverland,”
Johnny Depp plays the role he was born for:
J.M. Barrie, creator of Peter Pan. |
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Finding
Neverland :
Believe
By
Andrew Bender
If
the idea of a grown man entertaining young boys in a place
called Neverland makes you think of today’s tabloids,
do yourself a favor and get over it. Make believe you’re
in another, more innocent time---London of a century ago---then
go see this film.
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The king of this Neverland is J.M. Barrie (Johnny Depp),
the English dramatist who gave the world “Peter
Pan.” After one of his plays bombs, he becomes fast
friends with the Llewelyn-Davies family: the lovely widow
Sylvia (Kate Winslet) and her four young sons. Barrie
becomes a father figure---and distraction---for the sons
and their agile imaginations. Together they play pirates,
Indians and boys who can fly. Through their relationship,
Sylvia finds solace, the boys work through the grief of
their father’s death and Barrie gains the inspiration
for his most famous work. Not that it’s all sweetness
and light; there’s plenty of society drama for which
the British set the standard, and if you’ve ever
lost someone dear to you, bring a hanky and be prepared
to use it.
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“Finding
Neverland” boasts a terribly talented cast, notably
Winslet and the boys (especially young Freddie Highmore
as Peter), but the movie really belongs to Depp. Barrie’s
character suits him: light, offbeat, tender and magical.
In addition, Depp brings the finishing touch to each scene
with a masterful Scottish brogue and just the right hint
of tragedy---Barrie was a lonely man in a loveless marriage.
As for skeptics who might wonder how the fantasy scenes
are pulled off, suffice it to say that director Marc Forster
(“Monster’s Ball”) skillfully uses period
stagecraft rather than special effects, much to the movie’s
benefit.
You
could walk to the theater to see this movie, but it would
be more in the spirit to think you can fly. And who says
you can’t? Follow Peter Pan’s directions:
“First star to the right and straight on ‘til
morning.” |
