Jan. 11, 2005 - 2:20 pm
Jill and i are trying to get caught up for the Golden Globes which are happening on Sunday night. we weren't totally wanting to see the film, but it seems pretty clear that this is one of the few films that will be considered for quite a few major awards this year including best direction and best picture awards at various ceremonies. will it win Best Picture at the Oscars? who knows. we haven't even heard the nominees yet.
Finding Neverland is the story of J.M. Barrie, the original author of Peter Pan. it takes place in the early 1900s or so in England. the film stars Johnny Depp as Barrie, Kate Winslet as his muse (Sylvia), and Julie Christie as her overprotective mother. the story focuses on Barrie as he hits a dry spell in his playwriting, but then meets Sylvia and her four sons who seem to bring out all of the imagination and creativity within him.
i very much enjoyed the film, as did Jill. i got teary-eyed several times at the end when Sylvia started to get very sick. it was a sweet movie and not overly complicated. there was some decent cinematography and lots of great costumes. actually the music was well done as well and is getting nominated for some awards this year.
my only complaint was that it felt a little too much like a star vehicle to me. it's one of those movies that you just know is trying to win some Oscars just by having the right people put in the film. you wonder if it really has any other reason for existing than to win Oscars. those films always feel a bit hollow to me i suppose.