Finding Neverland (2004)
The freshly scrubbed, kiddie friendly,
PG rated version of J.M. Barrie's life. Cutie Johnny
Depp plays Barrie as a sexual neuter here, an impish
and withdrawn little English gentleman who never utters
an unkind work except when he becomes so aghast at
the mere mention of suggested impropriety with young
boys that he labels gossip-mongers as evil. But this
is as it should be to serve the messages of the film.
Those looking for something approximating an adult
look at the author will be sorely disappointed.
While "Finding Neverland" resorts
to some typical plot contrivances, even if they are
based loosely on true events, it does have a wonderful
message and a good-heartedness that makes it worth
while. We must suffer an evil grandmother and a few
other typicalities here, but by far the worst moment
comes when Kate Winslet, out of the blue, starts coughing.
It comes as no surprise to anyone when this immediately
develops into a terminal disease. She's as doomed
as doomed could be.
Yet while the script-writer's here
don't have much imagination when it comes to plot
contrivances, they do have some when it comes to exposing
the magic of imagination. Because "Finding Neverland"
is indeed about nothing less than celebrating imagination
and reminding us of just how wonderful imagination
can be. And how necessary it can be. And while celebrating
the imagination of children and the imagination of
writers, the film also celebrates the imagination
of the viewer. It's one of the few film that remind
us that it is our own imagination that allows us to
recognize ourselves when we see plays and film.
Imagination isn't just creating
new ideas. Imagination is also sympathy and empathy.
Imagination is what makes us able to recognize those
noble things that we believed in as children, before
we became cynical and jaded, like goodness and innocence
and the true spirit of friendship and love.
Imagination, if nothing else, is
a child's game, and one that ignores social conventions,
preconceived notions, and the need to stifle emotions.
"Finding Neverland" is about exactly this and its
childlike wonder could not be expressed any more appropriately
by any other actor than Depp. Somewhat reprising his
"mystical silent type" persona that served him so
well in "Benny and Joon," Depp can't resist affecting
a Scottish accent here and making the piece a real
"acting" tour de force. But it doesn't matter, his
heart is so full of love and glee here that it seeps
to the edge of every frame. He's simply perfect.
But it is the children who truly
win our hearts and make this film the amazing piece
that it is. While each of them are quite wonderful
and Nick Roud is quite good as the eldest, George,
it is young Freddie Highmore who steals our hearts
as Peter. His first name is somewhat appropriate as
he might be the first child actor with a British accent
to capture America's hearts since Freddie Bartholomew
in the 30's. And unlike Bartholomew, Highmore wins
us over while still remaining real and earnest without
ever resorting to childish trickery like sobbing or
screaming or mugging. He's seems a real boy and his
performance so supports the film that one cannot imagine
the piece being quite as successful without him. (Supporting
Actor nod, Academy?) He's so good, he's been tapped
to star with Depp in Tim Burton's "Willy Wonka" redeux
as the titular in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
Is "Finding Neverland" as good as
all the hype suggests? Absolutely not. But it is a
sweet and noble film that would much rather concentrate
on the spirit of imagination and loss of innocence
than the ply the wares and innuendo of gossip-mongers
and theorists. And maybe that's not such a bad thing
after all.
Notes:
Also with Julie Christie, Rahda
Mitchell, and Dustin Hoffman (who played one of Barrie's
creations, Captain Hook, a decade ago for Spielberg).
Directed by Marc Forster. Written
by David Magee based on Allan Knee's play, "The Man
Who Was Peter Pan."
During production the film was known
as "J. M. Barrie's Neverland."
The film was delayed by one year
due to legal wrangling with Columbia Pictures' film
version of "Peter Pan," which was released at Christmas
2003.
Miramax, which has had some financial
problems, mucked around with the film's release date
in several cities. It began running in some places
as early as Thanksgiving but in most of the country
it didn't begin playing until December.
Viewed in Austin in December 2004.
