Finding Neverland (spoilers will surely come)

Cafe Society
1

No thread on this one? I am surprised. It IS the best film of the year!

Johnny Depp, who I didn’t care for a few years ago, has been on a hot streak lately. He might as well go ahead and clear some room on the mantle for his best Actor Oscar. He conveyed so much of the story with just a look. It was fascinating. I loved how Depp conveyed Barrie’s sense of wonder and imagination.

WC Fields said that you should never work with kids or animals. Depp performs admirably with both, especially the exceptional young actor who played Peter Davies.

Kate Winslett did well, as usual, in a somewhat understated role (until the end).

When the words “THE END” appeared, my theater had one of those GREAT audience moments. No one rushed for the aisle. No one said anything. No one even moved. The only noise was the sound of people sobbing lightly. The whole audience waited until the credits had begun to leave. And as they did, there was a nice, but not over the top, round of applause.

Great stuff.

2

Agreed. I thought it was cute the way that they sprinkled little Peter Pan elements around, both the obvious ones (coat hanger to hook) and the subtle ones (the old tree with big roots).

Of course, there’s “Was the auhor of Peter Pan a pedophile?”

3

I was just telling a friend that accuracy is less important to me than story. Even when they are playing with real events.

But in all fairness, the film DID touch on that theory. The director chose the “bullshit!” take on that theory.

A further look at the inconsistencies.

4

When I saw Kelly MacDonald as Diane in Transpotting, I thought I could not ever love her more.

Then, Monday, I saw her as Peter Pan, and realized I’d been wrong.

5

I saw this a few weeks ago and rather enjoyed it–especially Johnny Depp’s performance and the visual fantasy elements–but the first thing I said when the movie was over is, “this is Shadowlands with Neverland instead of Christian intellectualism.” Barrie’s story, as presented in this movie, looks an awful lot like C.S. Lewis’s in the other.

I didn’t cry at the ending, but did tear up when the elderly lady who always went to Barrie’s plays was telling him how much her husband, who had recently passed away, would have enjoyed Peter Pan.

6

A most pleasant movie I must say. Very touching and believeble. I didn’t know the story behind Peter Pan and only remeber the book slightly as I read it a very long time ago. The movie still captivated me and touched on interesting issues. I think the best part about it is the PG rating. It proves that there really isn’t a need for violence/drugs/nudity/swearing for a movie to be good. Nice to get reminded of that from time to time.

PS Does anyone know if Johnny Depp is just really lucky to be that talented or did he actually sell his soul to Satan? :slight_smile:

7

I LOVED this movie. Like truly, madly, deeply loved this movie. I spent nearly the entire movie with tears in my eyes just about to fall, not realizing I was holding my breath until I gasped with joy.

I was glad they addressed the pedophile issue, and just as glad they dismissed it. True or not (and even Cecil seems “I dunno” about it), it made a wonderful story and movie to handle it exactly as they did. And Depp was utterly convincing in his niave and totally sincere shock that anyone could suggest such a thing.

Kate Winslet was sublime, as always. While she was much more restrained in this role than in many she plays, I think she did a wonderful job. I could see her measuring this strange man in her head, trying to figure out his angle, and then becoming utterly convinced he didn’t have one. She will accept him, as long as he is good to her boys. A wonderfully believable single mom.

And Peter Davies. Wow. If he lives up to this early promise, he will be an amazing actor. Or he’ll die of an overdose before the age of 30. :frowning: Either way, I can’t wait to see he and Depp working together again on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

8

I had the exact same experience when I saw it. No applause though. I didn’t cry because it’s not manly, but I definitely had a solid lump in my throat toward the end of the film.

I really liked the final shot of the bench in the London park (Hyde?) where Johnny Depp fades out but his hat and umbrella remain. It was beautiful, and made me want to return to London.

The one thing I didn’t like were some of the Davies kids’ lines, Peter in particular. Those kids were simply too young to use some of the sophisticated dialogue that was in there, which detracted from the believability of their performances.

9

Was Dustin Hoffman playing an American or does he just not have the ability to do an accent? I like Hoffman, but his presence in the film was almost a distraction.

10

He was playing an American. And his presence was a bit of an inside joke, since he played Captain Hook in Spielberg’s Hook.

I agree with you that this film is a serious contender for Best Picture.

(It also got a nice round of applause in the theater where I saw it, by the way.)

11

I did make the Hoffman/Hook connection. It made me laugh. The words “rolling over in his grave” came to mind.

Thanks for the answer to my question. Had I known that, I wouldn’t have been so distracted by his presence.

12

Hook was so-so, but Hoffman’s Hook and Bob Hoskin’s Smee were excellent.

That said, I also enjoyed Finding Neverland. :smiley:

13

I walked out saying “how is it that a few actors dressed as children, hanging from ropes and holding a teddy bear between them can be so emotionally compelling?” and suggested that it was just me, 'cause I’m a big moosh. NoCoolSpouseName sez there was lots of sniffling in the theatre and it wasn’t all because of the cold that’s going around.

We loved it. I can’t understand why it has a “B” average from critics in the current issue of Entertainment Weekly.

14

For anyone who might be interested in the real people behind the characters, this is my favorite Barrie/Peter Pan website. It has tons of great photographs of the people and locations, although I think it’s possible to go blind trying to read too many of the scanned letters and notes at one sitting.