This is some of Johnny Depp's best work.

Rating: 10/10 (31 October 2004)

Rarely am I moved by a movie as I was by "Finding Neverland." Johnny Depp transcends his "oddball character" stereotype. I thought no other of his performances would surpass his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow, but his sweetly endearing portrayal of J. M. Barrie, while very different, is its equal. He has a marvelous supporting cast, and young Freddie Highmore could easily have stolen the movie right out from under him, but Depp is so convincing as Barrie that one actually forgets that one is watching "The Sexiest Man Alive" and sees only Barrie; Depp once again submerges himself so deeply into the character that he disappears and only the character remains. One of the most moving moments of the film comes when Barrie explains how he came to create Neverland for himself. Depp handles the moment without sentimentality, but one feels the pain of the child James Barrie and begins to understand the adult Barrie's reasons for creating such an active fantasy life. As young Peter Davies states, Depp/Barrie IS Peter Pan.