A beautiful Neverland

Rating: 9/10 (7 February 2005)

Finding Neverland is exquisite in its simplicity. It is never overdone or melodramatic; instead, its gentleness, subtlety, and depth of character make it moving. It moves back and forth between real life and a fantasy world, illustrating the link between inspiration and imagination in the creation of the beloved play Peter Pan. Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet give strong performances with genuine emotion, yet the most outstanding performance of the movie belongs to Freddie Highmore (Peter). It is ultimately Peter who carries the movie's heart and soul, especially in the climatic scenes. I defy anyone to watch this movie without feeling a lump in the throat or shedding a tear. Finding Neverland deserves to be awarded Best Picture of 2004.