The Popkorn Junkie :: Finding Neverland

      This will teach me to submit my 'best of the year' list so quickly. Since I have submitted, that list, two other films have managed to creep on; now, add "Finding Neverland" to that list. I was originally a bit skeptical about this film. Though the majority of reviews had been glowing, it just seemed a little weepy for my tastes. I kept imagining "Hook" meets "Terms of Endearment" and that just didn't leave a good taste in my mouth at all. What I ended up getting was the most magical film of the year, and a totally unique movie going experience. This has all of the heart and soul of Marc Forster's previous effort, "Monster's Ball", along with enough imagination and creativity to fill ten motion pictures. Seriously -- who would have though there was more to be drained out of the whole Peter Pan/J.M. Barrie collaboration?

      Johnny Depp stars as the famous playwright, J.M. Barrie. When we meet him, he is unhappily married to Mary (Radha Mitchell), who is more worried about their social standing than their actual relationship with one another. After his newest play flops, his financer Charles (Dustin Hoffman) pressures him to get to work on another project as soon as possible. Inspiration comes when James meets the Davies children. Their mother Sylvia (Kate Winslet) is a widow who is raising all four boys with the help of her domineering mother Emma du Maurier (Julie Christie). Barrie immediately befriends the mother and the children, becoming the mother's best friend and a father figure to the children. Peter (Freddie Highmore) proves to be the toughest nut to crack, as he is still riddled with grief over the death of his father years before. Barrie uses the children as his muses to write "Peter Pan", and eventually turns a series of imaginative encounters into the tale that has captivated both children and grown-ups alike for years and years. The ending of the film is very emotional and heartbreaking, but Forster handles the material brilliantly, never allowing it to get too bogged down in sentimentality and syrupy sweetness.

      "Finding Neverland" has Oscar written all over it. In terms of technical achievements, this film is untouchable, except by maybe "The Phantom of the Opera". The costuming, make-up, art direction, and the brilliantly inspiring score are all worthy of nomination. The stage production we see of Peter Pan is marvelous, as well as the scenes of Barrie's imagination, which takes from on board a pirate ship to a beautiful garden filled with every possible creature of the creative conscience. There is one absolutely amazing scene with Depp dancing with his dog, and Forster flashes back and forth between the real life dancing and a scene of he and a bear dancing in a circus...this editing technique never fails and I found myself captivated. There is another equally inspiring scene involving the boys having a pillow fight and then Barrie imagining them as they start to fly and float out the window. It was nice seeing all of these puzzle pieces come together at the end of the film, in the finished product we all know and love.

      As for the performances, they are nothing short of amazing. Johnny Depp is better than ever here, delivering one of the best Irish accents I have ever heard in a film. His emotional range is also very surprising. Depp usually doesn't have such lofty emotions to deal with in a film -- he is usually not given this much with which to deal. Here, he takes it, works it, and churns out something so beautiful and so special. Kate Winslet follows up her phenomenal roll in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" with yet another reason to call her one of the best actresses working today, excluding her role in "Titanic". Here, her performance is slight, low key, and just plain lovely. The child actors, however, steal the show, especially Freddie Highmore as Peter. He has the range of a fully formed actor, and I cannot wait to see him in "Charlie & The Chocolate Factory".

      As mentioned before, "Finding Neverland" has crept onto my end of the year list. I hope Oscar shines down brightly on this film and gives it everything it deserves. I love films that make me smile on a regular basis, but can still make me do it while crying. This film accomplishes that. Johnny Depp is amazing, the supporting cast is phenomenal, the director is gaining steam, and everything just seems to fall together so nicely. I recommend this to all families wanting a thoroughly entertaining time at the movies, and that also includes the kiddies. The scenes taking place in Barrie's imagination are plenty to keep them occupied, and they will just stay transfixed for as long as Depp is on the screen. I know I was. Don't be surprised if Depp and Winslet land nominations, and look for tons of technical awards. Heck, maybe even Best Picture if the buzz holds up with the voters. Fingers crossed.

-- Billy Ray ( 4 out of 4 pops )

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