Depp is a study in subtle gentle genius

Rating: Null/10 (16 November 2004)

FINDING NEVERLAND (2004) *** Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Radha Mitchell, Dustin Hoffman, Julie Christie, Freddie Highmore, Joe Prospero, Nick Roud, Luke Spill, Ian Hart, Kelly Macdonald.
Depp shines as JM Barrie, the Scot playwright who wrote the classic 'Peter Pan', who finds inspiration for the story  and more importantly life - for his stagnant married life with the prudish Mitchell practically pushes him into the lives of widow Winslet (equally compelling) and her brood of four young lads (newcomer Highmore, as middle son Peter is the real find here ultimately going to co-star with Depp in the remake of WILLY WONKA). The film is a sugar-coated glimpse to an otherwise dubious biography of the complicated Barrie with a few facts either merged or glossed over yet it is Depp who continues to amaze in his gentle, shrewd and ultimately humane turn making up for director Marc Foster's shortcomings in making the film a real magical experience it only treads lightly upon.