Finding Neverland Review

Finding Neverland was a joy to watch from start to finish- the performances were terrific and many of the scenes were as magical as anything J.M. Barrie wrote. Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet were both brilliant- as should be expected- and were accompanied by a fantastic supporting cast. I can't imagine anyone making it through the film without getting teary-eyed at some point...it has many touching moments that play out at just the right tone. They also managed to insert many Peter Pan references into the story without cramming them down your throat. Calling Neverland a 'magical' movie sounds so cliched, but that's really what you come away from it feeling.

Torrey's Opinion:
5- Strongly Recommend
4- Recommend
3. A Mixed Bag
2- Sub-par
1- Don't Bother

Random Related Fact: Johnny Depp was so impressed with Freddie Highmore's performance as Peter in Finding Neverland, he recommended him to Tim Burton who, after screentesting, cast Highmore as Charlie Bucket in the upcoming Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Now for a little side note. Much of the evening's entertainment came before the movie even began. For reasons unbeknownst to us all, Neverland still isn't playing in Portland...so we traveled to the Eveningstar Cinema in Brunswick. For those of you who are in Maine, if you've never been to the Eveningstar you need to check it out. It's just one tiny theatre that wouldn't seat more than a hundred people at most, and in the front few rows there are random sofas set up like it's some kind of furniture show room. There were a half dozen sectionals and couches lined across, some even with coffee tables and the daily newspaper! It was fantastic- we felt like we were watching the movie from home. Tony even took his shoes off and put his feet up on the table. What's more, there was a piano and a small stage at the front of the theatre. While we were waiting for the show to start, some old guy on the sofa next to us asked what our favorite Beatles songs were. He then proceded to mosey over to the piano and played us The Long and Winding Road and Hey Jude while we waited. It was the craziest thing. This wasn't the type of theatre you'd want to see The Lord of the Rings in, but for a small artsy independent film it's the cat's pajamas.