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DVD Finding Neverland (Full Screen Edition)
Sweetness that doesn't turn saccharine is hard to find these days; Finding Neverland hits the mark. Much credit is due to the actors: Johnny Depp applies his genius for sly whimsy in his portrayal of playwright J. M. Barrie, who finds inspiration for his greatest creation from four lively boys, the sons of widow Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (Kate Winslet, who miraculously fuses romantic yearning with common sense). Though the friendship threatens his already dwindling marriage, Barrie spends endless hours with the boys, pretending to be pirates or Indians--and gradually the elements of Peter Pan take shape in his mind. The relationship between Barrie and the Llewelyn Davies family sparks both an imagined world and a quiet rebellion against the stuffy forces of respectability, given physical form by Barrie's resentful wife (Radha Mitchell, High Art) and Sylvia's mother (Julie Christie, McCabe and Mrs. Miller). This gentle silliness could have turned to treacle, but Depp and Winslet--along with newcomer Freddie Highmore as one of the boys--keep their feet on the earth while their eyes gaze into their dreams. Also featuring a comically crusty turn from Dustin Hoffman (who appeared in another Peter Pan-themed movie, Hook) as a long-suffering theater producer. --Bret Fetzer
Review(s): DVD Finding Neverland (Full Screen Edition)
Pretty good-More of a 3/12 stars
I enjoyed this movie. I thought it was fairly interesting, beautifully filmed, with decent acting. I felt Johnny Depp was excellent in this film. In fact he was the best part of the film. Having read a little about J.M. Barrie Depp seemed to reflect strongly some of Barrie's quirkiness. Overall a descent film worth watching (though I would rent or borrow it). Like other reviewers I will mention that this is a Fictionalized story regarding real people and events. It is NOT an accurate account. If you are a reader and interested in a more accurate account read the Book J.M. Barrie and the Lost boys by Andrew Birking(who's interviewed in the extra's).
Lovely
Finding Neverland is a wonderful, lovely little film. It's about as perfect as they get. The writers could have made it go on and on, bloating it past it's just over an hour and a half time frame. But they didn't. With amazing actors Johnny Depp, Kate Winslett, and Dustin Hoffman, the director could have let the cameras linger longer, stargazing to the point of watering down the story. But he didn't.
Finding Neverland tells the story of how the enduring story of Peter Pan came to be. Johnny Depp plays Scottish playwright Sir James M. Barrie. Barrie is just coming off a flop of a play that theater manager Charles Frohman (Dustin Hoffman) underrwrote. Kate Winslett plays a young widowed mother named Sylvia Llewelyn Davies. She is struggling to raise four boys. The boys become the inspiration for Barrie's play. Unfortunately, the story comes at personal cost to Barrie's wife Mary, and Sylvia.
Like Johnny Depp, who got comparisons to Michael Jackson in his portrayal of Willy Wonka, Barrie is drawing ire from the Victorian folks as they question not only what is a married man doing spending so much time with a young widow, but what is he doing with four young boys? Mary is neglected as James spends hours playing games with the boys, or walking in the park with Sylvia. Sylvia is socially ostracized, causing her mother to become enraged with Barrie. She accuses Barrie of being selfish. There is no doubt that is true.
I cannot stress enough that the brilliance and genuine qualities of all the children who acted in this film made this movie. The looks of sheer delight on their faces as they watched the play looked like pure innocence.
Extras include absolutely hilarious outtakes, a short piece on the creation of the movie, where Depp, Winslett, and Hoffman are interviewed, and an even shorter piece on the special effects used in the film.
This is a film worth purchasing, as you will want to see it repeated times. LIke a fine wine, it will ripen each time you see it, with new layers and nuances unfolding, until - one day - you will fall into tears.
Magical family film
Finding Neverland is a beautiful family film about playwright James Barrie (played by Johnny Depp). Barrie, who has unfortunately just weathered the commercial failure of his latest play, happens upon a fatherless family in the park. Sylvia Llewelyn Davies' husband has passed away, and she has been left to care for four very rambunctious boys: Peter, Jack, George, and Michael. Barrie falls in love with the young boys, and to an extent with their mother, because he discovers they stoke his own child-like imagination. Together, Barrie and the boys are pirates, cowboys, circus performers, and more. Inspired by the little family, and particularly by Peter Davies (played with aching accuracy by Freddie Highmore), Barrie pens the stage play Peter Pan, which is a resounding commerical and critical success for him.
This movie is a beautiful story about imagination, renewal, and growing up. Young Peter is scarred by the death of his father, and he observes his mother's illness with growing trepidation. He is an old soul in a young body, which seems to be why Barrie names his own primary character after him. Barrie hopes that Peter can feel young again, can rediscover the carefree life of childhood. Of course, there are complications. Barrie's wife, Mary (played by Radha Mitchell), doesn't appreciate all of the time he spends with the Davies family, nor of the affection he feels for Sylvia. As well, Sylvia's mother disapproves of Barrie's presence in her daughter's life. However, our protagonist overcomes both obstacles, and the resulting story is both hopeful and triumphant.
The performances in the film were particularly good. Depp is subtle and endearing as Barrie, playing a character much more true-to-life than his turns as fantastical Jack Sparrow, Willy Wonka, and Edward Scissorhands. Winslet is also excellent. Some of the scenes in which she revealed and dealt with Sylvia's illness were wonderful little gems in the film. She makes Sylvia such a likable character that it is difficult not to root for her whole-heartedly. Also, Freddie Highmore was astonishing as young Peter. I loved him in the scenes at the premiere of the play. A surprising new talent.
I also enjoyed the way the film invited the viewer into Barrie's imagination. During some scenes, flashes of what Barrie imagines (flying children, a ship tossed on rough seas, a dancing bear) are interspersed with dull reality. It was a very effective technique.
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