By: debbie lynn elias
After sitting on a shelf for the past year, “Finding Neverland”, the latest foray into the fantastical world of Wendy, John, Nana, Hook, Tink and Peter Pan, and this time compliments of Miramax, finally makes it way into theaters, but this time there’s a little twist. This go round we meet the man behind the magic of Neverland, Sir J.M. Barrie.
Noted British playwright Barrie has just had another of his productions fall flat on its face. Even in 1903 England, this is not a good thing – especially where his agent is concerned. Needing to produce a hit (and badly), Barrie’s agent, Charles Frohman, orders him to put pen to paper again – and quickly – but with one exception – the end result must be a success. Depressed, miserable and feeling Frohman’s pressure, Barrie heads off to his favorite local park to clear his head. With his trusty Newfoundland, Porthos, by his side, Barrie soon finds his mood is about to change when he stumbles onto the Llewelyn Davies family; Peter, Michael John, George and their widowed mother Sylvia.
Enraptured with the boys, Barrie finds himself drawing ever closer and more involved with the family, much to the dismay of his prudish wife and less than-pleasant mother-in-law. He is particularly fond of 8-year old Peter who hasn’t quite been himself since the death of his father. A loner, standoffish, seemingly afraid of relationships lest someone die like his father, Peter takes to Barrie and it’s not long before Barrie’s fertile imagination has the lad and his brothers involved in intricate backyard plays complete with cowboys and indians, and oh yes, even some pirates. Nighttime story hours lead to bed jumping, happy thoughts and flights of fancy. First star to the right and on til morning. And a crotchety old pirate captain bears remarkable resemblance to Barrie’s own mother-in-law.
As his relationship with the Llewelyn Davies boys continues and grows ever deeper, Barrie finally finds the impetus to begin writing again. Despite, or in spite of, self-inflicted marital ruin and gossip of pedophilia, Barrie soon becomes enraptured in his latest work. Thanks to his imagination and the “play acting” of the boys, Barrie finds the inspiration for his latest – and ultimately, greatest, masterpiece – Peter Pan.
Johnny Depp gives another inimitable performance that I can only hope will finally garner him the Oscar gold that he so richly deserves. Depp, who looks no older than when I first interviewed him back in the days of “21 Jump Street”, brings not only a youthful appearance and exuberance to Barrie, but then balances a delicate restraint of whimsy and mystery, making the man (Barrie) behind the magic as interesting and intriguing as the characters he creates. Depp glides across the screen as effortlessly as Tinkerbell twinkles in the night sky. He is mesmerizing. As most may know, it has been said by many (including myself) that Nicole Kidman was robbed of an Oscar for “Moulin Rouge” as was Russell Crowe for “The Insider” and Johnny Depp for his work last year as the performance to end all performances, that of Captain Jack Sparrow in “Pirates of the Caribbean.” The Academy saw fit to try and right its wrongs with Kidman and Crowe in the year after their snub by handing them the gold. And although I don’t think Depp’s work as Barrie is as phenomenally fantastical as when he is Captain Jack, it is still beyond Oscar-worthy, even up against the likes of Jamie Foxx and Jim Caveziel.
Kate Winslet has long been under-rated as an actress. She is so much more than the beautiful Rose DeWitt of “Titanic” and here, as Sylvia, it is visible for all to see. Winslet has a rare gift for being able to portray a woman as being strong both inside and out, but with a luminosity that shines from the inside carefully textured with a myriad of emotions, elicited through a glimpse, a glance or a subdued smile. As Sylvia, she blends tacit gentle grief with an overriding love and dedication to her family, an appreciation of Barrie and his imagination, and all the while appears oblivious to her own magic. As a result, the chemistry between Winslet and Depp is undeniable and adds not only to the characters, but the overall story. She is sheer perfection.
But beyond Depp and Winslet is young Freddie Highmore who himself should pick up an Oscar nod as Peter Davies. Child actors of his caliber are few and far between (think Haley Joel Osment) and Highmore is simply spellbinding as Peter. He tackles the role with all the animated exuberance and fearlessness of Peter Pan himself, but with an emotional intensity that always eluded the boy who never grew up. And as with Winslet and Depp, the chemistry between Depp and Highmore is hypnotic. If the real Barrie and Davies were as in sync, it’s no wonder Barrie was spurred to greatness with “Peter Pan.” Currently shooting the Tim Burton re-make of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” with none other than co-star Johnny Depp (who lobbied for Highmore to be cast as Charlie), I am already anxiously looking forward to, what I am sure, will be another incredible performance.
For a little bit of casting trivia, don’t miss Charles Frohman. Yes, it’s Dustin Hoffman who himself starred in yet another “Peter Pan” production; a little thing called “Hook.” And a nice little touch is the cameo by Laura Duguid, daughter of Nicholas Lllewelyn Davies, one of Barrie’s inspirations.
Written by David Magee, the story has such a fluidity that one finds it hard to believe this is McGee’s debut work and based on a play by Allan Knee. Adding to some well patterned wording is Marc Forster’s direction which seamlessly melds fantasy with reality creating an intoxicating elixir, the creativity of which is to be savored and appreciated. Also getting high marks is Gemma Jackson’s production design. Director Forster also deserves raves for handling the long bandied issue of hints of Barrie’s pedophilia and quickly dismisses them from the film and one’s mind, keeping Barrie cookie-cutter clean. The final product is one of pure enchantment, perhaps best summed up with this non-scripted event which thankfully made it to the screen: During a private production of Peter Pan for Sylvia, Peter asks all the children in the audience to clap their hands to save Tinkerbell. Veteran Julie Christie (who is superb as Barrie’s mother-in-law), who was merely a spectator, was herself so engrossed that she immediately started to clap, prompting every child in the room to turn around in wide-eyed wonderment.
Lensed in 2002, the film’s release was delayed from its original date in 2003 so as not to compete with last year’s less than well received “Peter Pan”. Given Miramax’s penchant for promoting the underdog and obscure come Oscar time, one can only hope they follow suit with “Finding Neverland.” Although not a real attention grabber for the younger set and which will undoubtedly be reflected at the box office, for the child inside us oldsters, the film is a magical ride in time that blends the joys of our own flights of fancy with the story of the man behind the myth; a man who himself never grew up in so many ways and for whom we all owe a great debt. Think happy, happy thoughts and take the first star to the right, straight on til morning.
JM Barrie: Johnny Depp Sylvia Llewelyn Davies: Kate Winslet Peter Llewelyn Davies: Freddie Highmore Charles Frohman: Dustin Hoffman Emma du Maurier: Julie Christie
Directed by Marc Forster. Written by David Magee based on a play by Allan Knee. A Miramax release. Rated PG.
