Review 468: Finding Neverland

Finding Neverland is magically, enchanting biographical fantasy film. A touching insight into the creation of one of the most beloved literacy characters and fun for the whole family.

Based on the play The Man Who Was Peter Pan by Allan Knee, Following the dismal reception of his latest play Little Mary, novelist & playwright J. M. Barrie (Johnny Depp) meets widow Sylvia Llewelyn Davis (Kate Winslet) whilist out in Kensington Gardens and forms a strong and close friendship between her and her four young sons, George (Nick Roud), Jack (Joe Prospero), Peter (Freddie Highmore) & Michael (Luke Spill). Over time he proves to be wonderful playmate and father figure to them and their imaginative antics give him ideas which inspire him to write the classic play Peter Pan or The Boy Who Never Grew Up.

The plot is a beautifuly written exploration of the creation of Peter Pan that both children and adults can enjoy. It's a film about inspiration and creativity, but at its core, its a film about a man who gets this idea for this book through his love for


Director Marc Forster's direction is sensitive, the cinematography is colourful and captures the beauty  and prestige of early 1900's London, the production design is splendid, the score by Jan A. P. Kaczmarek is beautiful, the costumes are

There are fine performances all round to be found in this film, everyone is well cast.
Johnny Depp is simply remarkable in this film playing J. M. Barrie. There’s a childlike side of Barrie that Depp just sinks his teeth into. We meet Barrie when he finds his career at a crossroads   When he plays a pirate during the fantasy sequences, he’s clearly channeling his inner Jack Sparrow.

Kate Winslet is fabulous as Sylvia Llewelyn Davis, not just playing the maternal side of the woman,  but also playing a women who is dying of cancer She's fascinated by Barrie in the same way her boys are fascinated by him and that

Radha Mitchell  playing Mary Ansell Barrie, the wife of J. M. Barrie.

Julie Christie is also very effective in this film playing Emma du Maurier.

Dustin Hoffman also provides  playing Charles Frohman.

Elsewhere in the cast Toby Jones, Kelly Macdonald, Ian Hart & Mackenzie Crook round out the cast with terrifically noteworthy performances.

 

charming for the whole family, 4.5/5

 

The Anonymous Critic.