Most people associate Johnny Depp with movie roles that are a little out of the ordinary. As Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean, he painted a ridiculous, comical character who was laughable to any viewer.
With Finding Neverland, director Marc Forster has brought another dynamic character, Sir James Matthew Barrie, to life through Depp’s expertise. In conjunction with Kate Winslet, Dustin Hoffman, and rising young actor Freddie Highmore, Forster brings to life the story of the creation of Peter Pan, a tale so famous that it has been transformed into movies and theme park rides.
When the film opens, we meet Mr. Barrie at the opening of his newest play. He appears nervous, and the crowd appears uncomfortable. Charles Frohman (Hoffman), the owner of the theater, does not realize the return on investment that he expected by financing Barrie’s play, and Barrie sets off to write a play that will resurrect his career as a respected playwright. Along the way, he encounters a widow (Winslet) challenged by the care required by her children, and this family proves to be the engine for his imagination. It challenges him to determine what is important to him, and the audience gets carried along on the journey.
The star-studded cast evokes a great deal of emotion while generally remaining believable, even though the viewer is continually reminded that the film is “just a bit of silliness, really.” Excellent imagery and cinematography convey a beautiful 18th century real world, as well as an intriguing visual depiction of Barrie’s imagination. Complementing the cinematography and set work is the Oscar-winning score composed by Jan A.P. Kaczmarek, which also helps set the audience’s minds on a course to visit Tinkerbell and Captain Hook.
Neverland was nominated for best picture at this past February’s Academy Awards, losing to Sideways, but was certainly worthy of the award. It could have been a bit less predictable, but certainly fits the role of an uplifting weekend motion picture. It also presents a highly dramatized version of the real-life story, considering that events which occurred years apart during Barrie’s lifetime occur at the same time in the film.
If you’re looking for high-paced, pirate-fighting action, this is not the Johnny Depp flick for you. Movie-goers in search of a journey into their imaginations, however, will find few better opportunities. UPAC Cinema is showing Finding Neverland this Friday at 7:00 pm, 9:30 pm, and midnight. People looking to attend both the GM Week Finale/Fireworks and a showing of Neverland will be able to do so by attending the midnight showing.
