Finding Neverland Movie Review:


Loosely based on true events, this inventive film examines the creative process while telling a moving story from the life of the creator of one of our most endearing literary figures.

It's 1903 London, and the playwright JM Barrie (Depp) is recovering from his latest flop when he meets the young widow Sylvia (Winslet) and her four sons--eldest George, Jack, Peter and Michael (Roud, Prospero, Highmore and Spill). Their innocent energy and sharp personalities appeal to the child within him, and as he indulges in role-play adventures with them, he develops the tale of Peter Pan. Of course, Barrie's wife (Mitchell) and Sylvia's mother (Christie), both society women, aren't terribly happy about this scandalous-looking friendship.

Even with the liberties it takes with the story, this is a compelling film that celebrates imagination and suppressed childish wonder. Forster shoots it in an unfussy but lush way that feels earthy and real, letting us forget that this is a period film, while tickling us with constant witty references to Peter Pan. He also mercifully avoids sticky sentimentality, even when the story takes a strongly emotional turn. Besides being a delightful tale well told, this is a provocative look at a strained marriage, a budding relationship between kindred spirits and the value of youthful compassion.

Depp is outstanding as always, somehow capturing the more shadowy side of Barrie's personality and yet winning us over completely. His sparky personality combines intriguingly with a face and physicality that can look simultaneously boyish and manly. Meanwhile, Mitchell and Winslet are very strong as the very different women in his life; and Christie is fantastic as the imperious woman who's had enough of this nonsense! But in the end the film belongs to Highmore, who gives a wonderful turn as the boy who's virtually the opposite of his namesake Peter Pan--he's a small child who has grown up far too quickly.

Forster and Magee also artfully mix in fantasy sequences straight from Barrie's fertile imagination, all played out on screen like scenes from a play of the period. The film is simply gorgeous to look at, and it packs an undeniable punch--strange, silly, inventive, devastating, inspiring.

Rich Cline

With his last play a resounding flop, renowned playwright J.M. Barrie (Depp) needs some inspiration for his next venture. He finds it in the park when he meets the Llewelyn-Davis brothers and their recently widowed mother Sylvia (Winslet). Watching them play and encouraging the development of their imaginations, he spends more time with the family than he does with his wife
(Mitchell) with begins to cause some what of a scandal in polite circles. But the family are his muse and from that interaction comes a play about a boy who would never grow up and lived in a place called Neverland.

Everyone knows the story of Peter Pan but do you know how playwright J.M. Barrie imaged the story?
This is the story behind the play, which in parts is just as magical as the tale of the boy who refused to grow up. Based on the real events that shaped
Barrie's writing of 'Peter Pan', finding Neverland explores the relationship between the playwright and the Llewelyn-Davis family.

These are some of the most joyous and traumatic times in Barrie's life but from this he produced one of the most loved children's stories ever written. Here we see him
rediscover his passion for life by remembering what it was like to be a child with a limitless imagination.
As Barrie is transformed by meeting the family, so are the Llewelyn-Davis'. Sylvia finds a companion and confidant in Barrie, as she opens herself up to
life again after the death of her husband but it is the children that benefit most from the playwright entering into their lives. Through encouragement, play and imagination he brings the four boys out of their grief and allows them to life again. All of this produces an uplifting story that will warm even the coldest heart.

The cast do an excellent job in bringing this heart-warming tale to the silver screen. Johnny Depp is one of the best character actors working in
cinema today and his portrayal of J.M. Barrie is no exception to the rule. Depp is in his element here, playing the slightly eccentric author with a
great gusto and passion for the role. He is at his best during while interaction with the children, as he becomes the characters in their games of Pirates and Cowboys and Indians. Kate Winslet is also good as Sylvia Llewelyn-Davis, bringing a sense of pride and dignity to a woman that is struggling to cope with bring up four young boys on her own. Radha Mitchell continues to make a name for herself, with another fine performance as J.M.
Barrie's beleaguered and ignored wife Mary. Julie Christie and Dustin Hoffman bring some class to their small supporting roles as Sylvia's mother
Mrs. du Maurier and Barrie Theatre backer Charles Frohman. In very important roles for the piece, the children are very watchable and not at all annoying in the slightest. It is very easy for child actors to be
overly emotional and cringe-worthy but these for fine young actors are more than up for the challenge. Of the four Freddie Highmore is the highlight as
Peter Llewelyn-Davis, the one son who is finding it the most difficult accepting the death of his father. It is the interaction between him and Depp that is the main focal point of the movie and without an outstanding performance, the movie could have so easily have fallen flat.

Finding Neverland is a fascinating insight into the life of one of the literary greats. Beautifully shot by director Marc Foster, who combines reality with imagination exquisitely, and superbly acted by the cast, this is a magical film that instantly warms the heart as you realise that Neverland is only a thought away.

Star Rating = * * * *

Jamie Kelwick

What inspired children’s author and playwright JM Barrie to create the otherworld of Neverland and its legendary inhabitant, Peter Pan. In the new family film “Finding Neverland”, we find out.

Johnny Depp stars as the influential children’s author who one day stumbles upon a recently widowed mother (Kate Winslet) and her four boys. Barrie becomes infatuated with the innocence and unfathomable appetite the family has for stories. Much to the resentment of Barrie’s neglected wife (Radha Mitchell), Barrie begins spending a lot of time with the widow and her boys. Elite society starts to speculate about Barrie’s behavior and both Barrie’s wife and the widow’s mother (Julie Christie) begin to doubt Barrie’s intentions.

Eventually the story of Peter Pan, the Lost Boys, Captain Hook and the Darling children comes to life inside Barrie’s head. It just took a little inspiration to open his eyes to Neverland.

At first when looking at director Marc Forster’s “Finding Neverland” you may feel that the film looks and feels a lot like an old live-action Disney film from the 60s and 70s. There were some elements of awe and grace that were housed in Disney films of that era including films like “Candleshoe”, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” and of course, “Mary Poppins”. What those films from that era lacked was a firm centre in reality.

The beginning of “Finding Neverland” has a lot of the same feel and execution that those beloved Disney films had. What makes the film stand out away from those films is the film’s second half. It is filled with a lot of very real problems and performances. But even when the film is faced with these things it still delivers the magic.

A lot of the magic comes from the once more amazing performance from Johnny Depp who seems to have cornered the market on incredible. His stoic, engulfed and imaginative performance as Barrie is utterly flawless. There isn’t a misstep or departure in the performance and its one of the finest I have seen in a very long time. He physically and literally breathes this character.

Kate Winslet’s performance of the single mother in over her head is memorable and enjoyable but Julie Christie as her mother eats up scenes by the mouthful. Christie is amazing and such a great adversary for the imaginative Depp. When I was to compare these characters I thought back to the movie “Footloose” where Kevin Bacon squares off against the prim and proper John Lithgow. Just as that performance electrified us, so does this.

When it came down to Barrie unleashing his Neverland, I am so glad the filmmakers cast Peter Pan as a woman and reimagined the classic story as Barrie would have seen it in that time period. That in itself is one of the most magical elements of “Finding Neverland”. It is almost like you have been transported back in time to witness the first stage production of “Peter Pan”

Even though “Finding Neverland” isn’t the complete and true story of JM Barrie, it is truly an inspiration and probably the “feel good” movie of the year.

(4.25 out of 5)

So Says the Soothsayer.

Dean Kish

 

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