Finding Neverland
By MovieCritic on 05-06-2008
Finding Neverland, loosely based on the story of the relationships that inspired J.M. Barrie to write Peter Pan, received multiple nominations from the Academy Awards, the British Academy, the Golden Globe Awards, and the Screen Actors Guild. A British/American collaboration, it is a recognizably British-style production, with understated acting, a rich musical score, and luscious cinematography. It is mostly a film for the Cooperative temperaments (Guardians and Idealists), the story of how the wholesome love shared by a family leads an already successful man onto his path to artistic immortality. For the pragmatic types, the movie may seem a bit slow-paced; it consists of lots of dialogue and little action.
J.M. Barrie (Johnny Depp) is a Scottish playwright living with his wife Mary (Radha Mitchell). After the failure of one of his productions, Barrie meets widow Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (Kate Winslet) and her sons in Kensington Gardens. He befriends the family, carrying on a deep (though platonic) relationship with Sylvia and sharing vivid imaginary worlds with the boys. Sylvia's mother Emma (Julie Christie) worries that his presence will prevent Sylvia from remarrying and providing a father to Peter, Jack, George, and Michael. After reading the Peter Pan manuscript he writes for his young friends, Mary becomes so jealous that she leaves Barrie. What disturbs her is not the connection he has with the mother, but the one he has with the children. She tells him that when she married him, she thought he would take her to "the place that brilliant people go" to get their ideas. He tells her that she is the one who will not go there with him. Peter Pan is completed and produced to great success; the most important performance, though, is a private one for Sylvia on her deathbed. She, unlike Mary, can see Neverland. A highlight: the casting seems just right and the acting performances are skillful.Verdict: Strays from historical fact, so don't expect biography. A beautiful and sentimental film.
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Posted by JackDermody on May 7, 2008
A platonic relationship -- when there is chemistry -- is awfuly painful to watch. Because my wife was riveted to the screen, I dared not sprint out of the theater for air to breathe, but would have otherwise. |
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Posted by bsaunders on May 10, 2008
JackDermody, one of the things that impressed me about the movie was this platonic relationship with chemistry. That is difficult to pull off in a film (though moreso in life!) |
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Posted by DavidMKeirsey on Jun 21, 2008
This movie is one of my favorites for seeing the differing Temperaments in action. Some of the interactions leap out. Julie Christie (Guardian) and Johnny Depp (Idealist) after the funeral is something to watch very carefully for the cooperation that can happen between the two temperaments. The conflict between Depp and his wife (forgotten name) is very revealing between a nice, considerate Guardian and generous Idealist, but clear in how they just don't understand each other because one is concerned and concrete and the other is enthusiatic and intuitive |
I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. Definitely a movie for the imaginative Idealist!