Finding Neverland
I quite enjoyed this
film. Of course the highlight was Johnny Depp's performance but the
rest of the cast were equally as good. It managed to tell a
modern-day appealing story but set it in the early 1900's. It was
well written and directed and flowed very well. I was suprised at the
transition in film making style from it's director Marc Forster, who
lastly helmed "Monsters Ball". You couldn't really ask for
two different movies could you? I believe he will be a director to
keep an eye on in the near future.
The basic story outline, without giving too much away is, Depp portrays playwright J.M. Barrie. We see him at the time time when his career is at a low point. His latest plays flops, his producer is losing faith in him and he feels distanced from his beautiful wife, as he spends all his time secluded within his imagination, writing what he makes up. Then one ordinary day, in the park, he comes across four young, and interesting boys and their mother. Being the people person that he is, he connects with them right away and tells them a story. They like him, he likes them and he then befriends the family. He spends days at their house, playing make believe which is all really giving him inspiration for his new play. He's not sure what is coming alive out of all this but we obviously know.
Without giving away anymore plot points, from here on in he basically finds his inspiration for Peter Pan and creates the play.
This was actually filmed before Depp's most recent blockbuster "Pirates of the Carribean" and was delayed due to the release of P.J. Hogans "Peter Pan" in December 2003. There is one hint in it that it was filmed before Pirates as there is a scene where Depp's character is playing with the boys of the woman he befriends and he is dressed as a pirate. His voice and and actions were similar to that of his character from Pirates, Captain Jack Sparrow. Perhaps he was hinting at the character he would next play.
Anyway, "Finding Neverland" is an entertaining and emotional film. It was original and showed a different side to Depp's maturity as an actor. He is obviously more good looking than the real J.M. Barrie was but he gets the Scottish accent dead on. And this character wasn't a quirky one like the ones he has played of late. He was just a normal man which is pretty much as close to the truth. J.M. Barrie was a normal man but had an abnormal imagination. He invented Peter Pan and it's myth and it has spread farther that he probably could have imagined. It has spawned several movies, books and plays and is the basis for a certain, funny-faced, pop star's outlook on life. He even named his house after the land where the story of Peter Pan is set. You know who I mean?
I definitely see more and different types of adaptations of Peter Pan and Neverland hitting cinema screens because it is all about a fantasy that every adult, deep down wishes they could live, either internally or just for a moment. To be a kid again and not have to grow up. I sometimes wish that.
The basic story outline, without giving too much away is, Depp portrays playwright J.M. Barrie. We see him at the time time when his career is at a low point. His latest plays flops, his producer is losing faith in him and he feels distanced from his beautiful wife, as he spends all his time secluded within his imagination, writing what he makes up. Then one ordinary day, in the park, he comes across four young, and interesting boys and their mother. Being the people person that he is, he connects with them right away and tells them a story. They like him, he likes them and he then befriends the family. He spends days at their house, playing make believe which is all really giving him inspiration for his new play. He's not sure what is coming alive out of all this but we obviously know.
Without giving away anymore plot points, from here on in he basically finds his inspiration for Peter Pan and creates the play.
This was actually filmed before Depp's most recent blockbuster "Pirates of the Carribean" and was delayed due to the release of P.J. Hogans "Peter Pan" in December 2003. There is one hint in it that it was filmed before Pirates as there is a scene where Depp's character is playing with the boys of the woman he befriends and he is dressed as a pirate. His voice and and actions were similar to that of his character from Pirates, Captain Jack Sparrow. Perhaps he was hinting at the character he would next play.
Anyway, "Finding Neverland" is an entertaining and emotional film. It was original and showed a different side to Depp's maturity as an actor. He is obviously more good looking than the real J.M. Barrie was but he gets the Scottish accent dead on. And this character wasn't a quirky one like the ones he has played of late. He was just a normal man which is pretty much as close to the truth. J.M. Barrie was a normal man but had an abnormal imagination. He invented Peter Pan and it's myth and it has spread farther that he probably could have imagined. It has spawned several movies, books and plays and is the basis for a certain, funny-faced, pop star's outlook on life. He even named his house after the land where the story of Peter Pan is set. You know who I mean?
I definitely see more and different types of adaptations of Peter Pan and Neverland hitting cinema screens because it is all about a fantasy that every adult, deep down wishes they could live, either internally or just for a moment. To be a kid again and not have to grow up. I sometimes wish that.
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