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Finding Neverland


Even the old man behind me was sniffling, by the end.
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Take kleenex, but by all means, see this film. This is the story of J. Barrie's experiences with the Llewelyn Davies family - the widow Sylvia and her four sons. Barrie takes them under his wing, and they take him into their hearts... to the detriment of his marriage and reputation, but they don't seem to care. The resultant story is Peter Pan, and this film interweaves that story with it's own conception with unsentimental genuine affection. This amazing balance is struck in (first time screenplay writer) David Magee's script, overseen beautifully by director Marc Forster (Monsters Ball) and acted with emotionally
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charged honesty by a superb cast. Johnny Depp turns in a very precise and vivid performance as Barrie. Kate Winslet is her always-skilled and beautiful self. And veteran of 7 films (at age 12) Freddy Highmore steals hearts as Peter, the sometimes ironic inspiration for Barrie's Peter Pan.

This is a period piece (1903 London), Depp does a Scottish brogue, it's a very emotional story.... every pitfall one could imagine, yet they're navigated with such seemingly effortless that only in retrospect did I realise how badly this could have gone. The story is one to get lost in. I look forward to the opening so I can do it again!