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While I love good brainless comedies—and
totally contrived action flicks—it’s nice, every once in a while, to come across a movie
that’s so moving and inspiring that I almost forget it’s a movie. Like Finding
Neverland.
Johnny Depp once again gives a spectacular performance as
J.M. Barrie, the author who’s famous for writing Peter Pan. The film, based on
actual events in Barrie’s life, depicts Barrie’s relationship with the family that
inspired his most famous work.
Recovering from the failure of his latest
play, Barrie heads to a nearby park to start over. There, he meets Sylvia Llewelyn
Davies (Kate Winslet), a recent widow, and her four young boys. As his friendship with
the Davies boys grows, his relationship with his wife, Mary (Radha Mitchell), suffers—and
rumors begin to spread about the nature of his relationship with Sylvia. But Barrie
needs the Davies family just as much as they need him—and as the Davies learn to laugh
and pretend and enjoy life again, they inspire Barrie to write the work that will
eventually become a classic story.
I realize that the story isn’t entirely
accurate—and for that reason, I was slightly skeptical about the movie. But once the
film begins, none of that matters. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I was so
engulfed in a film. The story is so imaginative and so enchanting that it’s capable of
moving everyone who sees it to childlike awe and delight. I often found myself watching
it in wide-eyed amazement, with a smile on my face—even when I wiped away the
tears.
There isn’t a single performance in this film that doesn’t deserve
recognition. Depp and Winslet are as brilliant as you’d expect, but the most surprising
performances come from the children—who are loveable (and entirely believable) without
being too cute. Freddie Highmore, who plays Peter Llewelyn Davies (look for him
later this year, once again starring with Depp in Tim Burton’s Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory), is absolutely stunning.
Finding Neverland
is a great film for the whole family. To quote a line from the movie, “It’s magical.”
Don’t miss it.
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