Finding Neverland (2004)

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

Director:

Marc Forster

Writers:

Allan Knee (play), David Magee (screenplay)

Stars:

Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Julie Christie

Won 1 Oscar. Another 19 wins & 80 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

1903 London. Renowned playwright J.M. Barrie (James)'s latest effort has garnered less than positive reviews, something he knew would be the case even before the play's mounting. This failure places pressure on James to write another play quickly as impresario Charles Frohman needs another to replace the failure to keep his theater viable. Out for a walk with his dog in part to let his creative juices flow, James stumbles upon the Llewelyn Davies family: recently widowed Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (the daughter of now deceased author George L. Du Maurier) and her four adolescent sons. James and the family members become friends, largely based on he and the boys being able to foster in each other the imagination of children, James just being the biggest among them in this regard. Sylvia also welcomes James into their lives, he who becomes an important and integral part of it. Among the six of them, the only one who does not want to partake is Sylvia's third, Peter Llewelyn Davies, who is ...

---

Plot Keywords:

stage play | author | england | reference to peter pan | dog | 

---

Taglines:

How far can your imagination take you.

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama | Family

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild thematic elements and brief language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 December 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

J.M. Barrie's Neverland

Filming Locations:

Laredo Wild West Town, Kent, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£776,124 (United Kingdom), 31 October 2004, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$220,524, 14 November 2004, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$51,680,613

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$116,766,556

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax, FilmColony, Keylight Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min 101 min (DVD) (Encore print)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The American theatrical producer Charles Frohman, played by Dustin Hoffman in this film, often worked in London and was indeed J.M. Barrie's usual impresario, also introducing the author's plays to Broadway. However, when "Peter Pan" opened for the first time in London, he was actually in New York, not present at the opening as this film shows. Also, whereas Dustin Hoffman's Frohman is repeatedly shown as being extremely dubious about the enterprise, the real Frohman was extremely enthusiastic about "Peter Pan" from the outset; it was J.M. Barrie who felt certain the play would flop.

---

Goofs

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?

---

Crazy Credits

Paul 'Welcie' Wellstead (as Paul Wellstead) is credited twice for 'supervising rigger': once in the onscreen "Camera" section and once in the onscreen "Construction" section.

---

Connections

Version of Peter Pan (2000)

---

Soundtracks

Medieval and Renaissance Fanfare No. 7
Composed by David Marshall (PRS)
Published by Studio G Ltd (PRS)
Courtesy of Promusic

User Reviews

Beautiful, Moving Movie with Very Few Flaws

I had heard that this was merely a "chick flick." Hey, my wife is the one who wanted to go see it. As it turned out, I went with three other guys, and we all loved it.

Some movies entertain; some teach; some open up new worlds. This movie opened up new worlds. With each passing scene, carefully woven from the previous ones, it was like crossing yet another threshold into another world. The story unfolded deeper and deeper with each new scene, each layer adding not to complexity (the story is rather simple), but to the depth. Depp and the others (esp. the young actor who played Peter) easily lead the audience deeper and deeper into the paths of authenticity, healing, love, friendship and the triumph of inner strength. The other characters, likewise, garnish the central story excellently.

The only flaw I saw is, I'm sure, a matter of taste and perspective; I felt the grandmother was simply too two-dimensional and not as believable as she should have been, though she, too, had some beautiful moments that truly added to the film.

Having much experience with divorce (being a divorce attorney) I found the unfortunate relationship between Depp's character and his wife believable to a tee: two people deeply in love with each other yet more committed to personal pursuits than tending the difficult relationship we call marriage. Ironically, though Depp's character ultimately became the main caretaker of the four boys, by following the tender feelings of his heart, he allowed his marriage to evaporate by not following the other tender feelings of his heart.

Nearly perfect. I give it a 9 out of 10.