SNMR 2.18: "Finding Neverland"

Tonight's SNMR feature is "Finding Neverland" (2004, PG, 101 minutes), starring Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Julie Christie, Dustin Hoffman and Radha Mitchell. The film was directed by Marc Forster.

I'd never had an opportunity to watch this movie before tonight. I'd seen this movie at the store a number of times and had considering buying it for my DVD collection because I like the work of both Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. But I never did. So when I saw it on the library shelf this week I could not resist checking it out for free...

From the DVD's dust case:

Award winners Johnny Depp ("Pirates of the Caribbean"), Kate Winslet ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"), Dustin Hoffman ("Rainman") and Julie Christie ("Troy" and "Hamlet") star in this magical tale about one of the world's greatest storytellers and the people who inspired his masterwork, "Peter Pan"! Well-known playwright James M. Barrie (Depp) finds his career at a crossroads when his latest play flops and doubters question his future. Then by chance he meets a widow (Winslet) and her four adventurous boys. Together they form a friendship that ignites the imagination needed to produce Barrie's greatest work! An enchanting big screen treat with an acclaimed cast of stars, "Finding Neverland" has been hailed as one of the year's best motion pictures.

From Martin & Porter's DVD & Video Guide 2007, p. 386:

This story behind J.M. Barrie's (Depp) creation of his classic Peter Pan emanates a resonant gentleness and sense of wonder. The film begins in 1904 London with Barrie's marriage on the rocks and his latest play bombing on opening night. He crosses paths with the widow Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (Winslet) and her four young boys in a park and strikes up a friendship that feeds his creativity, the indignation of his wife and her mother and the local gossip mill.

I liked this film. Johnny Depp is as versatile of an actor as you can get and once again gives an excellent performance. Kate Winslet is one of my favorite actresses. Her performace is understated. This marks the second Peter Pan related movie for Dustin Hoffman. Though the pacing was a little slow throughout, I thought the script overall was decent. The beginning of the film claimed that this story was based on true events. Since I'm not familiar with Barrie's background, it's hard to tell how much artistic license was taken. I'll give this film three and a quarter out of five stars.