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Finding Neverland [2004]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Sweetness that doesn't turn saccharine is hard to find these days; Finding Neverland hits the mark. Much credit is due to the actors: Johnny Depp applies his genius for sly whimsy in his portrayal of playwright J. M. Barrie, who finds inspiration for his greatest creation from four lively boys, the sons of widow Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (Kate Winslet, who miraculously fuses romantic yearning with common sense). Though the friendship threatens his already dwindling marriage, Barrie spends endless hours with the boys, pretending to be pirates or Indians--and gradually the elements of Peter Pan take shape in his mind. The relationship between Barrie and the Llewelyn Davies family sparks both an imagined world and a quiet rebellion against the stuffy forces of respectability, given physical form by Barrie's resentful wife (Radha Mitchell, High Art) and Sylvia's mother (Julie Christie, McCabe and Mrs. Miller). This gentle silliness could have turned to treacle, but Depp and Winslet--along with newcomer Freddie Highmore as one of the boys--keep their feet on the earth while their eyes gaze into their dreams. Also featuring a comically crusty turn from Dustin Hoffman (who appeared in another Peter Pan-themed movie, Hook) as a long-suffering theater producer. --Bret Fetzer

Editorial
Synopsis

Most people know the story of Peter Pan, the boy who refused to grow up. Director Marc Forster's (MONSTER'S BALL) FINDING NEVERLAND delves deeper, depicting a fictionalised account of the family and events that inspired the classic tale. At the turn of the 20th Century, Scottish playwright J.M. Barrie's (Johnny Depp) latest play in London has flopped almost as badly as his marriage to stature-seeking Mary (Radha Mitchell). During one of his frequent excursions to the park with his dog, Barrie meets four young boys and their recently widowed mother, Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (Kate Winslet). Soon Barrie becomes a frequent playmate to the children, using the boys' imagination to take them on fanciful adventures. He also becomes a friend and confidante to the overwhelmed Sylvia, much to the dismay of her overbearing mother (Julie Christie). Barrie's active imagination and interaction with the family inspires 'Peter Pan', a play that celebrates the child in everyone and the importance of believing in fantasies and miracles. A droll and amusing Dustin Hoffman appears as American Charles Frohman, Barrie's producer. The film also features young Freddie Highmore as Peter Llewelyn Davies, the inspiration for Barrie's title character.

Appreciated
Review date: 2008-03-27 Rating: 10 out of 10

I watched this film first on the plane to Gran Canaria! And as far an inflight entertainment goes it was perfect! It really set the right mood for my holiday! When I got home i bought it on DVD!

It's such a poignant film which really moves you. Its also educational as it tells you how Peter Pan came about. But above all it has teh perfect acting duo of Kate Winslet and Johnny Depp. They compliment each other beautifully and really tell a story. It's a heart warming family film, which may make you cry due to some saddening content, but thats over ridden by the rest of the film anyway.

A genuinly lovely film.

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Reviews


The best film ever... Full stop.
Review date: 2008-02-04 Rating: 10 out of 10

I bought this film on the day of release and still to this day I think about it and it warms my heart. Johnny Depp is the best actor of our time, his performance as Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie is, in my opinion, his best performance and he will have to go a while to better it.
Michael, played by Luke Spill (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), is an amazing actor for such a young age and has a great future ahead of him. I know Johnny Depp is very impressed with his performance and credits him as one of his best friends.
The soundtrack to this film will last a lifetime, it honestly does create a tone to this film which is breathtaking, I cant help but have a lump in my throat when i listen to Peter Pan Overture.
Please take my advice - watch this film!

Do you believe?
Review date: 2008-01-01 Rating: 8 out of 10

FINDING NEVERLAND has proven to be the perfect film for Christmas or New Year. Although I am not a fan of Peter Pan or J. M. Barrie's other work, this film is truly beautiful and touching.

Johnny Depp plays the playwright, Barrie who is struggling to find the right magical ingredient for his plays. Then, a chance meeting with a widow (Kate Winslet) and her four sons in the park opens up his life and gives him the opportunity to find what is missing.
It is through this relationship with the boys that he is able to explore his own imagination, whilst at the same time igniting theirs, and so bringing the six of them closer together.
Yet, while Barrie's relationship with the boys' mother remains platonic, because of the times they live, people soon begin to talk, especially as Barrie is married yet spends more time with this family rather than his own wife.
Rightly or wrongly, Barrie does not sacrifice his friendship. Because of this, he is able to create Peter Pan - a play which saves his public image, and a play that enables him to give something to Sylvia at the end of the film.

FINDING NEVERLAND is turly a lovely film; one that surprises and delights in equal measure. The cast are brilliant. Depp and Winslet are both excellent. Likewise, the supporting cast help to make this film, each bringing something to their individual characters, making the whole thing more real. The examination of Barrie's relationship with his wife, for example, is very well handled - the actress expertly putting across the image of a woman who feels that she is being made a fool of by her husband's public display of friendhsip towards another female. And the actress who plays Winslet's mother also creates a formidable character, whose personality and motivations are brilliantly portrayed.

As a heartwarming film to watch, with an added bit of magic, that never falls into the trap of being too sickly sweet, this film hits all the marks.

The Bambi of the cinema is a true darling deer
Review date: 2007-09-03 Rating: 10 out of 10

Pirates are Johnny Depp's curse for ever and even when he becomes a Lord in late Victorian London he manages do choose the author of Peter Pan and thus gets some Captain Hook to shake his hand. But his role is a composition of the best and most difficult type, the type of stunts you don't need a stuntman to do in your place. The film is a real gem for two main reasons. First of all because it is a love story in a time when love was some kind of forbidden goods in the aristocracy. And the love story is so pure, so beyond any doubt that he avoids melodrama when death decides to play his own game with that Johnny who invades the widowed mother's life a little bit too much. Dramatic but not tear-wringing. And the second reason of the beauty of that film is also the reason why it remains feeling intense without being heart rending or heart breaking. The whole film is centered on a bunch of boys and brothers and Peter is so young that we are amazed by his being so present, so good, so mature in his performance. He does not miss a word, a sentiment or an emotion and his so deep acting touches us a lot more than the obstinacy of Death to come and take away what he considers his owed property. And all the rest is nothing but the clothing and beefing up of that power. Johnny Depp becomes a real prodigy in this composition and he looks so serious that we forget the genial clown he is quite often in other films. Peter Pan is a legend and his author is like the Peter of Heavens, the guide and majordomo of our imagination who can introduce us to what real spiritual happiness can be. And we discover we are still able to dream because somewhere the film wakes up the child or even the baby who has never died completely in our life of needs and wants and remembers the cradle that a motherly hand was rocking in a regular and powerful rolling that has inspired our most intimate desires as soon as we were big enough to sleep flat on our stomach in an adult bed. Regular and religious rhythm of that rocking. The religion of coming out of the dream to wake up in a sunny world of pure tenderness.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines


A great moving film
Review date: 2007-04-26 Rating: 10 out of 10

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Its the story of Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan. This is the story of the creation of Peter Pan, how Barrie was influenced by the young family of a friend. Unfortunately he is married and the friend is an attractive widow played by Kate Winslett. Although their behaviour is perfect society frowns upon their relationship and gossips are hard at work! (Nothing changes!) In the end Barries own marriage fails but he has created a classic timeless childrens story.

My favourite part is when Barrie brings the performance of Peter Pan to Winsletts home as she is dying and unable to get to the theatre. This seems quite limited at first in their drawing room but then the curtains open and her garden has been transformed in to Never Never land!!

Its a moving film, a bit slow in paces, but Depp is his usual brilliant self and Winslett is stunning. Watch and enjoy!!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Julie Christie
Johnny Depp
Kate Winslet

Creators:
Johnny Depp (Primary Contributor)
Kate Winslet (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainm
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainm
EAN: 5017188815567
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2005-03-14
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 97 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2004
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: German (Subtitled)
Language: Italian (Subtitled)
Language: Spanish (Subtitled)
Language: German (Dubbed)
Language: Italian (Dubbed)
Language: Spanish (Dubbed)

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