The Second Star to the Right

Rating: 9/10 (24 March 2015)

The secret to the success of "Peter Pan" lies in its ability to tap into the imaginations of its audience. That the film "Finding Neverland" manages to do the same thing is a remarkable achievement.
J. M. Barrie (Johnny Depp) is a soft-spoken, imaginative man with a childlike tendency to indulge in whimsy. He endures his strained marriage--and the other realities of life--by immersing himself in playwrighting. When he meets a widow (Kate Winslet) and her four boys, he involves himself in their lives, ignoring social mores.
Inspired by his foster family, Barrie begins to write the play "Peter Pan". The film manages to cross back and forth over the line between reality and fantasy, mirroring Barrie's view of life. It is a wonderful accomplishment, achieved in no small part by the film's beautiful score. The actors uniformly turn in solid performances. Overall, the production values are excellent and London of 1903 comes to life on screen. This film has a gentle soul and will appeal to anyone who understands the heart of Pan, the boy.