The Best Movie by far this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rating: 10/10 (27 November 2004)

This is by far the best movie I have seen this year! It has been a long, long time since I have been to a movie theatre where the audience broke into genuine spontaneous applause at the end of the movie! With just a hint of the POTC's "Captain Jack", in some scenes, Depp gives a masterful performance as J.M. Barrie, the creator of "Peter Pan". Once again Depp is superb in a demanding role. This guy has to be the best and most versatile actor in Hollywood today! The supporting cast is excellent too. Hoffman as Barrie's gruff but faithful and patient backer and producer, Mitchell as an increasingly frustrated wife and Winslet as a devoted and tragic mother-figure. As for Julie Christie, all that I can say about her is that, like the old cliché of "a fine wine", she just gets better and better with age! Although I would like to have seen more of her character in this movie, I think there is a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Ms. Christie for her work here. The screenplay is superb as is the film work. No blood, guts, foul language or over excesses of special effects here! Just a beautifully scripted and acted movie with a great cast and excellent direction. As usual, Hollywood takes some liberties with the script, but what Marc Foster does so well is show us how Barrie got his inspiration for Peter Pan while only hinting at the possible darker side of Barrie's life. In real life Barrie's world did not imitate Hollywood (it unfortunately seldom does!). However, the storyline is so good and well written that you won't care! Just remember to bring a few extra handkerchiefs for the final scenes. A wonderful movie full of drama, tragedy and the triumph of the human spirit! This movie is surely a lock for an Oscar nomination. As for "JD", if he does not get an Oscar win never mind a nomination for this movie, then the folks who cast their votes at the Academy should be promptly sent to "Neverland" themselves for a "wake up call!