Finding Neverland (2004)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Marc Forster

Writers:

Allan Knee (play)
David Magee (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 November 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Family

Tagline:

Unlock your imagination.

Plot:

The story of J.M. Barrie's friendship with a family who inspired him to create Peter Pan.

Plot Keywords:

Play | Widow | Friendship | Author | Writer

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 16 wins & 54 nominations

Cast

Johnny Depp	...	Sir James Matthew Barrie
Kate Winslet	...	Sylvia Llewelyn Davies
Julie Christie	...	Mrs. Emma du Maurier
Radha Mitchell	...	Mary Ansell Barrie
Dustin Hoffman	...	Charles Frohman
Freddie Highmore	...	Peter Llewelyn Davies
Joe Prospero	...	Jack Llewelyn Davies
Nick Roud	...	George Llewelyn Davies
Luke Spill	...	Michael Llewelyn Davies
Ian Hart	...	Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Kelly Macdonald	...	'Peter Pan'
Mackenzie Crook	...	Mr. Jaspers - Usher
Eileen Essell	...	Mrs. Snow
Jimmy Gardner	...	Mr. Snow
Oliver Fox	...	Gilbert Cannan

Also Known As:

J.M. Barrie's Neverland (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild thematic elements and brief language.

Runtime:

106 min | USA:101 min (DVD) (Encore print)

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Taiwan:GP | Iceland:L | USA:PG (certificate #39814) | Malaysia:U | Netherlands:6 | South Korea:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Malaysia:U (DVD) | New Zealand:PG | Sweden:Btl | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Brazil:Livre | Canada:G | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Chile:TE | Czech Republic:U | Finland:K-7 | Germany:o.Al. | Hong Kong:I | Ireland:PG | Norway:7 | Peru:PT | Philippines:G | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

In actuality (not the film), Peter Llewelyn Davies was not J.M. Barrie's inspiration for the Peter Pan character. His younger brother, Michael, was. Michael is also said to be Barrie's favorite of the children, not Peter. It is not certain why Barrie then chose to name the main character Peter. One idea why is because of his brothers, Peter behaved the most like an adult at a young age. Barrie wished he had had more of a childhood, so he immortalized him as the symbol of youth.

Goofs:

Continuity: When J.M. gets out of the car when they are on their way to the cottage to shoo off the sheep, the road is muddy with puddles all around. When he gets back in the car, the road is perfectly fine.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Charles Frohman: Opening night. I love opening night. How are you? Did you see him?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Paul Giamatti/Ludacris featuring Sum-41 (#30.10)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Medieval and Renaissance Fanfare No. 7

Wow

I always tell my students that they can't claim a movie they just saw as their favorite movie ever because it has yet to stand the test of time. Every now and then a movie comes along that defies that rule for me -- a movie that as soon as I finish seeing it I know that it is an instant classic, if not "my favorite movie ever." American Beauty was such a movie.

Finding Neverland is such a movie. Every minute of this movie was simply incredible -- I felt like the kids in the theater on the opening night of Peter Pan. Johnny Depp is absolutely astounding, as he usually is, as JM Barrie. The rest of the adult cast doesn't quite come up to his level, but are uniformly strong. The kids, especially Peter and Michael, are wonderful. Maybe I just love the British accent, but one of my favorite scenes comes very early when Barrie meets Michael in the park -- Michael's accent reminded me so much of the kid in The Little Prince!

What raises this movie above standard fare, though, are the clever entries into Barrie's imagination. The magical moments in this movie seem to literally jump off the screen. Without a doubt, a film worthy of Oscar nominations for Depp, screenplay adaptation, cinematography (the pirate ship scene is gorgeous), and best movie of the year. Treat yourself - despite the PG rating, this is NOT a movie just for kids -- believe... 10/10