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Finding Neverland
11/24/04 - PG - 106m
Johnny Depp - Sir James Barrie
Kate Winslet - Sylvia Llewelyn Davies
Freddie Highmore - Peter Llewelyn Davies
Director: Marc Forster
Story by: Allan Knee (play) David Magee
Studio: Miramax
Official
Website
LYN
Nutshell: The conception and evolution of the ‘Peter Pan’ story through the eyes of its creator ‘Sir James Matthew Barrie’ portrayed by ‘Johnny Depp’.
I must say not much of an incentive to go to the movies. “Oh another ‘Peter Pan’ story? What’s there been like twenty already?” But being a fan of Mr. Depp’s work, that and I figured it was a slow film week so why not. Although it did seem a little uncomforting being in a theatre with mostly women and couples only, and since Jef and I are neither, we still seemed to be conspicuously the only unencumbered gentlemen in the house. “Oh my God… Have we stumbled inadvertently into a… a chick flick?” 
Just a joke… No offense to anyone out there, so before you start the hate mail, I have seen many a film that would be considered to be in that genre so to speak. But that usually involves me dragging my wife to the theatre (dragging, cause she ain’t much the film fan) and because there are films I’d like to see, that I couldn’t drag Jef to, so she gets to be the unlucky participant, but she usually ends up liking the films, and man… I’ve really drifted off the topic here…
Anyway the story begins with playwright Barrie coming off an opening/closing night (all in the same evening) performance of his latest play. He starts to develop his newest piece while in the park after meeting the Davies family, which included a mother and her four boys. The family is sans a father, and Barrie fits into the seam like a surrogate dad, or more aptly…a big kid for the boys to play with. And beings that the boys recently lost their dad having someone being there to show them how to still enjoy their youth is exactly what they need right now. And they are in turn exactly what Sir Barrie needs for his soul.
It was simply a heart-warming and touching film. The performances we spectacular by everyone involved, although some did shine a little more than others. ‘Johnny Depp’s’ performance was not less than “Oscar” worthy. And ‘Dustin Hoffman’ who played producer ‘Charles Frohman’, although his screen time may have been fleeting, he was yet brilliant in his performance. But… actor ‘Freddie Highmore’ whom portrayed ‘Peter Llewelyn Davies’ (the inspiration for the “Peter” in ‘Peter Pan’) performance was the kind that touches your soul. (And one could see why ‘Johnny Depp’ was so impressed that he convinced ‘Tim Burton’ to cast Freddie as ‘Charlie Bucket’ in Burton’s upcoming remake of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” or “Willy Wonka” as most may recall.*)
I could go on and on, but instead… just go see the film.
Lyn
*Source: IMDB (Trivia)
