Susan Granger’s review of “Finding Neverland” (Miramax Films)
Johnny Depp once again proves why he’s one of today’s finest screen actors and clinches a Best Actor Oscar nomination with his imaginative, gently nuanced portrayal of how celebrated Scottish playwright James M. Barrie came to write “Peter Pan.” As the story begins in London in 1903, soft-spoken Barrie is looking for inspiration. By chance, he encounters Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (Kate Winslet) and her four rambunctious sons in Kensington Gardens. She’s a recent widow and, while Barrie plays games with the boys, he realizes he’s drawn to her vulnerability, much to the distress of his socially ambitious wife (Radha Mitchell) and Sylvia’s mum (Julie Christie) who view their emotional attachment as quite improper. From his observations of these four fatherless boys, Barrie writes the guileless fantasy about children who don’t want to grow up – to the amazement of his producer (Dustin Hoffman) who has doubts about a new play featuring a giant dog, fairies, pirates, Indians and flying kids. Adapted by David Magee from Allan Knee’s play and directed with remarkable restraint by Marc Foster (“Monster’s Ball”), it not only mirrors the Victorian Age but also envisions Barrie’s “pretend” world while delineating the creative process of this childlike writer who notes, “Young boys should never go to bed. They wake up a day older and, before you know it, they’re grown.” While young Freddie Highmore (set for the title role in”Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”) is superb, as is Dustin Hoffman, and Kate Winslet is charming, Johnny Depp is faultless. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Finding Neverland” is a heart-warming, magical, enchanting 10 – one of this year’s best films. Like the ticking crocodile, time is chasing after all of us.
