Director: Marc Forster
Release Date: 2004
Running Time: 1hr 36 minutes
Genre: Biography/Drama
Rating: PG
Format: Amazon Prime UK
Synopsis:
Did you ever wonder how author, J.M Barrie came up with the incredible character Peter Pan? This is the story of the friendship with a family that inspired him!
Set in 1903, playwright J.M Barrie's latest play sadly didn't earn him very many positive reviews. This failure places pressure on him to write a new play fast, in order to replace the failure, to keep the theatre viable. Whilst out walking his dog, James stumbles across the Llewelyn family, recently widowed Sylvia Davies (Kate Winslet) and her four sons. After soon spending time with the family, he soon conjures up the story that we all know and love, Peter Pan! I've lost count of how many adaptions there are of "Peter Pan", Walt Disney's probably being the most famous! However until this film was released, no one truly knew how he came up with the incredible story. It's terribly fascinating.
The storyline is magnificent, as it progresses you really start to put all of the pieces together in seeing what inspired J.M Barrie to write his book. I really love how Director Marc Forster has chosen to show that through the children playing make believe. Cowboys and Indians, pirates and jumping up and down on beds, it all starts to make sense. Johnny Depp delivers, really quite a remarkable performance as Scottish author J.M Barrie, Depp is an incredible character actor, his Scottish accent is fabulous. His character is magical in his own right, a very childlike quality, a man who always wants to have fun! To never grow up! Let's face it, none of us want to grow up! Many of us as adults, are still waiting to grow up. After understanding that Barrie doesn't share the best relationship with his wife, it's clear he gets lost in his writing, as his way of coping.
Kate Winslet's performance as Sylvia Davies is very good, a loving mother who'd do anything for her boys. Although, she too hides a dark secret. Freddie Highmore, is absolutely incredible as Peter Davies, believe it or not, he was actually not the inspiration for the book, his brother Michael was, despite the name, Peter Pan! Highmore is a very underrated actor that delivers more convincing roles then those who have been acting twenty or thirty years. The friendship that he shares with Barrie is wonderful, soon finding inspiration himself to write plays and keep a journal.
Dustan Hoffman who also starred in the film adaption of "Peter Pan", in "Hook", has a very interesting character as Charles Frohman. I don't want to say a lot about his character, but it has great significance to the story. Despite Peter Pan, being a very magical story, the film is quite emotional, it's not unusual to find that in the darkest of times, magic is created! The setting is perfect for the time in which the film is set, the costumes are perfect and match the characters beautifully, particularly Sylvia's boys. Fantastically shot, Marc Forster has chosen to use stunning shots to create really magical scenes, particularly during the play, in the second chapter of the film. The cinematography is nothing spectacular, however it doesn't need to be in order for this movie to work and be entertaining! The magic comes from the storyline and the performances of the actors.
A terrific film, with a deep and meaningful background, Johnny Depp is delightful! You will find yourself looking at the story of "Peter Pan", in a completely different light. Brilliantly paced, fantastically magical and entertaining! Perfect for those who wish not to grow up! A story, that is certain to bring a tear to your eye!
5/5 stars!
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