Great Biographical Drama

Rating: 10/10 (13 March 2010)

Finding Neverland Miramax Films
Director: Marc Forster
Genre's: Biographical Drama
Starring: Johnny Depp as Sir James Matthew Barrie, Kate Winslet as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, Julie Christie as Mrs. Emma du Maurier, Dustin Hoffman as Charles Froman, Nick Roud as George Llewelyn Davies, Joe Prospero as Jack Llewelyn Davies, Freddie Highmore as Peter Llewelyn Davies and Luke Spill as Michael Llewelyn Davies.
Marc Forster directed this amazing cast of actors to tell the story of the evolution of the creation of Peter Pan, by the playwright James Matthew Barrie. Johnny Depp uses his magical powers as a chameleon to transform himself into the Scottish storyteller of the 1800s. "Finding Neverland" takes the viewer into the personal lives of the relationships that Berrie used to create the magical story of a boy who refused to grow up. These relationships although not acceptable for the time, would none the less survive and flourish as the widow Sylvia and her 4 sons, Michael, Peter, Jack and George, become enamored with the boyish playful nature of Barrie. This story shows that the hardships of life can have devastating effects on children, to the point where it can rob them of their childhood. When Barrie first meets the Llewelyn Davies family the young son Peter has become old beyond his years due to the loss of his father to cancer. Barrie uses his fascinating imagination and creativity to bring the children back to a more innocent happy time in their lives. After meeting Sylvia and her sons Barrie is faced with the lifeless marriage that has developed over the years within his own life. Barrie develops a deep love for Sylvia and her boys and is determined to lead the family to the peaceful place in his imagination "Neverland." "Finding Neverland" was reminiscent of the 1990 TV Movie, "The Dreamer of OZ" which chronicled the life of the famous author L. Frank Baum who created "The Wizard of OZ." Both stories gave the viewing audience a perspective on the power of imagination for these two gifted storytellers. Throughout the filming of "Finding Neverland" the cinematography was exceptional. Clear, crisp, colorful, on location filming was done to perfection. Scenes out of the imagination of Barrie were so bright and focused to the magic of his mind that the audience is taken right to the heart of "Neverland". I felt an immediate admiration for both the writer and the man Sir James Matthew Barrie.