Finding Neveralnd, 2004
Dir. Marc Forster"Young boys should never be sent to bed...they always wake up one day older."
Finding Neverland is the charming biopic of J.M. Barrie and the creation of his timeless, symbolic character Peter Pan. And more than just being another biopic, it's actually terrific biopic, one that manages to do most everything right, and elevates itself to more than just an average look at an auteur's life.
Instead of focusing on the entirety of his life or career, J.M. Barrie (Johnny Depp) comes in after his last play was received largely as a failure, and immediately moves into James accidentally coming across the Davies family, who ultimately reignites the creativity and wonder inside of him. Allowing him to write the play he was always meant to write. Peter Pan.
And that's the reason this movie succeeds, over any of the other biopics. Other films that focus on celebrities, focus too heavily on the lifespan of the particular celebrity, in an unfocused and unrestrained life, relying completely on the actor to bring something compelling to the performance. There's no doubt or argument from me, that Joaquin Phoenix was phenomenal as Johnny Cash in Walk The Line, but was the bigger picture there? What was the message? Looking back it's kind of hard to see a point amidst the complexity and expanse of it all.
Finding Neverland manages to be impressive in it's simplicity and focused look on creativity and what inspires us. About the childhood wonder all of us are capable of if only we imagine. So more than looking at the life and hardships of J.M. Barrie, we're treated to a script and film that treats the audience with respect and offers an insightful look on the magic of imagination. I highly recommend this movie to everyone who hasn't seen it, as not only is it a really great film, but it's the best and perfect example of what a biopic should strive to be. Purposeful.
4 out of 5
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