I'm not sure exactly what I expected when I went to see Finding Neverland, but it turned out to be a very heartfelt and moving film. The movie tells the story of Sir J.M. Barrie, who we all know as the author of the beloved play Peter Pan. The preview makes it look as though the movie is about the process by which Barrie wrote his famous play, but while that is a major plot point, the overall story is much more about Barrie himself, and the relationships he has with his wife and the members of the Davies family. While the fact that the Davies family provided Barrie with the inspiration for Peter Pan did hold some interest for me, what really drives the film is the love that Barrie develops for Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (played by Kate Winslet) and her children. If I had to come up with a complaint about this film, I can only think that it was rather slow for much of time. But for some reason that never bothered me. Possibly, the wonderful performances were what held my interest. Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet are always good, but of particular note to me was Freddie Highmore, who played Peter Llewelyn Davies. The role of Peter would have been really flat if played by the wrong actor, but Highmore brought out all of the nuances of the character in a very powerful way. I am really looking forward to seeing Highmore as Charlie Bucket in next year's remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Viewed: 11/18/2004 | Released: 9/3/2004 | Score: A

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