I walked into Finding Neverland with very high expectations. After all, my friend had seen it once at the Mill Valley Film Festival, and then had managed to go to the Sneak Preview and couldnít stop talking about it. I am very happy to say that all of those expectations have been fulfilled.

Finding Neverland is the story of James Barry, the man who wrote Peter Pan. Itís the story of the four boys who gave him inspiration for the play, and their widowed mother with whom he was in love. He meets the boys one sunny afternoon in the park, while he is writing, and he sees the littlest boy hiding under a bench.
ěIím in a dungeonî The little boy, Michael, says solemnly. Instead of doubting or laughing, James talks with him seriously. When the boys beg him to perform for him, he dances with his enormous Newfoundland dog, pretending it is a bear. Scenes of James and the dog dancing are interspersed with scenes of a man and a bear dancing in a colourful circus. This is an example of the amazing cinematic techniques and beautiful filming displayed in this exquisite movie.

As James gets to know these boys, he realizes that one of them, Peter, is less outgoing and has less of an imagination than the other boys. He sort of takes Peter under his wing, but everything he does for Peter seems to make it even worse. When Peter confides in him that he wants to be a writer, James gives him a leather-bound book and encourages him to write.
Meanwhile, James is writing his own story: The story of Peter Pan, the name ěPeterî taken from his little friend Peter. The play blooms in his mind and you can see the things he imagines on screen, such as, when they are going to bed, his wife opens the door and sees a normal room, but he opens the door and sees blue sky and grass and butterflies.
This innovative filmmaking, good as it is, needs to be supported by superb acting to make it work. Fortunately, in this movie, the acting is even better than the special effects. Johnny Depp gives a perfectly quirky performance, Kate Winslet as the single mother of the four boys is flawless. Even the childrenís acting is amazing, Peter standing out. You literally believed you were in this story; you could feel the emotions of these characters so well.
The script of this movie is extremely well written. The emotions go seamlessly from hysterically funny to heartbreaking in an instant. The drama is believable and outstanding Finding Neverland is one of the best movies I have ever seen.
This is Natalie Johnson for movie magazine.

© 2004 - Natalie Johnson - Air Date: 11/17/04