Release Date
TBA 2004
Director
Marc Forster (Monster's Ball)
Screenwriter
David Magee (Debut)
Cast
Johnny Depp
Dustin Hoffman
Kate Winslet
Julie Christie
Radha Mitchell
Vanessa Redgrave
Kate Maberly
Kelly Macdonald
Paul Whitehorse
Synopsis
J.M. Barrie's Neverland is based on the play The Man Who Was Peter Pan, which focuses on how Pan's author J.M. Barrie was inspired to write his story after bonding with four fatherless children who lived next door to him in 1800's London.
"The tragedy of childhood is that it ends all too quickly," James Matthew Barrie says in The Man Who Was Peter Pan. The four young Davies brothers become an important element in his life. "Barrie feels a connection to George, Peter, Jack, and Michael that he doesn't have with other people - he revels in their rambunctiousness, encourages their creative impulses, and, unknowingly, lives vicariously through them. He becomes a kind of surrogate father to them, and develops a warm friendship with their mother, Sylvia."
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Trailer Here (http://www.themoviebox.net/movies/2004/IJKLM/J.M.Barrie%27s-Neverland/trailer-page.html)
Well what do you know! Another potentially really good movie, held on the shelf by Weinstein for over a year, probably chopped to hell, and now promoted with a trailer specifically designed to make people think its directed by Lasse Halstrom.
Is the title of this thread incorrect?
No, they re-titled it from the much better 'Neverland' (I recall reading a legal reason, though).
Quote from: GhostboyWell what do you know! Another potentially really good movie, held on the shelf by Weinstein for over a year, probably chopped to hell, and now promoted with a trailer specifically designed to make people think its directed by Lasse Halstrom.
Really? Is that just speculation on the 'cut to hell'?
I saw this tonight and it seriously does feel like something Lasse Halstrom made for Miramax's Oscar campaign. It's not bad -- for the most part, it's very good, but it's also very calculated. I'm a big fan of Marc Forster's films, particularly Everything Put Together, but there were only little things here and there that distinguished this as a piece of his work. And the score -- Jesus, this probably could have been a much stronger film if the overly competent score hadn't telegraphed every single beat five minutes before it happened.
Johnny Depp is fantastic though -- if it weren't for him, I don't think I would have enjoyed the film much. He really brings it to life.Kate Winslet does her best with what's mostly a thankless role. The children are uniformly excellent, particularly the young lad who's since been given the lead in Charlie In The Choclolate Factory.
There are some nice fantasy sequences, and I teared up a few times. There's a recreation of the "I don't believe in fairies" sequence from Peter Pan, and that really got me. That scene hits me hard in whatever it's in, from this to ET to last year's Peter Pan, where I practically burst into tears.
Marc Forster was at the screening. He seems like a very nice fellow. He talked about, among other things, how he got someone in Switzerland to pay for his tutelage at NYU. I wish I lived in Switzerland now.
I'm looking forward to the fantasy sequences. This was titled J.M. Barrie's Neverland, wasn't it? I was dissapointed to find it retitled as "Finding Neverland." I mean, its ok, but its really generic.
Quote from: SalThis was titled J.M. Barrie's Neverland, wasn't it? I was dissapointed to find it retitled as "Finding Neverland." I mean, its ok, but its really generic.
from horrible to less horrible? i think that's an improvement.
Well I saw this last night at an early screening. I have to say it was pretty good overall. I wasn't blown away by it and I wouldn't compare it to "Peter Pan" from 2003. But it had some good performances and some interesting detail about how J.M. Barrie came up with the ideas for writing the story.
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hahahahaahaha
we're all gonna be pissed now
saw this yesterday. agree with everything ghostboy said, except marc forster wasnt at my screening. it was well done, but just not something i could be excited about. i had re-visited the excellent Peter Pan the night before so this was a little dull by comparison. i too am just a little suspicous of films that seem to be made for awards season, like the perfect cast/director etc. also funny that the poster makes it look so happy and feel-good when its actually a bit of a downer tearduct endurance test film.
I just saw this and loved it... the movie itself is not so great... but some of the scenes and dialogues, and Johnny Depp made it for me...
I had a great time... and they didnt make it long or anything... if they were looking for an Oscar-whetever release I believe it worked for them!
I agree with the comments here. It was an appealing film that was often almost tear-inducing, but it wasn't mindblowing. Depp, Winslet, and the kid who played Peter gave very good performances. I never thought "Oscar material" while watching it, though.
Quote from: Ghostboy
There are some nice fantasy sequences, and I teared up a few times.
Yeah, I was near tears at least three separate times during the film and some water did end up coming out of my eyes at the end. The last film that affected me that way was Big Fish.
I saw this film a few weeks ago. I thought it was wonderful, and derserves to be more than one page in Now Showing.
I came into this film with little expecatations. The trailer didn't grab me but the buzz was good. I think the Oscar talk is justified, this is a very solid film. All of the acting is amazing, from Depp and Winslett to Christie and Hoffman to the children. I liked how the film's fantasy scenes were very simple and not full of CGI, this fits the content of the film very well. The movie's pacing is right on and I had no problems iwth the score. The film had score when needed and was silent when needed. It was very well written and probably one of the most charming films I've seen in a long time. I also found myself tearing up during parts of Finding Neverland, so it's obviously effective.
****1/2 out of 5 stars. So far one of the years 5 best for me.
Factually inaccurate...
Shamelessly manipulative tearjerker....
I really enjoyed it. Three stars. Hope it gets a couple nominations.
Best line: "Twenty-five orphans. Now my nightmare is complete."
----
p.s. --- Did anyone else have some serious deja vu regarding this film and "Shadowlands"?
A DVD Wonderland
How does someone like Marc Forster, the director of Finding Neverland and Monster’s Ball, rate and evaluate actor performances on DVD? Columnist Ian Spelling has the answers. Source: FilmStew.com
After showing early promise with the films Loungers and Everything Put Together, filmmaker Marc Forster has come into his own with Monster’s Ball and Finding Neverland. The former of course brought Halle Berry the Best Actress Oscar, while the latter is being much discussed this film awards season as a major contender for Best Director, Actor and perhaps even Best Picture.
Already, Forster, Depp and the film have been nominated for Golden Globes, with the German-born 35-year-old filmmaker having developed a reputation as an ‘actor’s director.’ With the Globes and Oscar nominations set to take place on January 16th and 25th respectively, we thought it would be interesting to find out how someone like Forster approaches the acting craft when watching it on DVD.
On the eve of the holidays, and in the midst of grappling with post-production on the Naomi Watts-Ewan McGregor thriller Stay and pre-production on the Will Ferrell comedy Stranger Than Fiction, Forster took some to answer this month’s Collector’s Corner questions, which were somewhat modified in honor of the ongoing film awards season.
Q: Just out of curiosity, what was the first DVD - or Laserdisc - that you purchased?
A: Blade Runner. Today, I own about 75 DVDs.
Q: What are your three favorite actor performances of the moment on DVD, and why?
A: Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire; Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves; and Peter Sellers in Being There. Watching Watson’s performance in Lars von Trier’s film, I feel like I am a ghost in someone else's life. And Peter Sellers captures the infinite complexity within the simplicity of a performance.
Q: As a director, do you find yourself using DVD chapter selection and/or rewind capabilities to re-watch certain actor scenes?
A: No, I’ve never used those features to re-watch actor scenes. When I do use the rewind capabilities, it’s mainly for technical research.
Q: Do you prefer Academy voters to watch your films on DVD or the big screen? And do you think certain films or performances tend to stand out more on the DVD medium vs. the big screen?
A: In general, I prefer people to watch my films on the big screen because I believe the collective experience of watching a film with an audience is a very different one than watching a film in solitude. But yes, some films do play better on DVD than in a theater.
Q: How involved were you in the production of the Monster’s Ball DVD? And do you have a favorite extra feature on that?
A: I was involved. And my favorite extra is Billy Bob [Thornton] doing an imitation of Karl [Childers] from Sling Blade.
Q: What do you envision at this point for the Finding Neverland DVD and/or extras?
A: I've already done the commentary and I'm still figuring out the rest. I usually don't think too much about the DVD when I start a film. I just try to use my energy to make the best film possible.
Q: Johnny Depp is of course one of the actors of the moment. If you were to point to some onscreen highlights, what would they be? And who does he remind you of as an actor?
A: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Ed Wood are great performances, as are Donnie Brasco and Edward Scissorhands. He doesn't remind me of anyone in particular; I think he has his own unique style and flavor.
Q: How do you feel personally about deleted scenes and alternate endings being included on DVD? And do you find the DVD culture has changed the allowances for shooting extra stuff on a film set?
A: I've never shot any extra stuff on a film set for the DVD because I never had the luxury to do so. If I would have the time and money perhaps I would, but I really don't care for alternate endings or deleted scenes. I'm really only interested in the director's final vision.
Q: Your next film, Stay, co-stars Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor. Did you ever watch that Watts audition scene in Mulholland Drive? And what about Ewan McGregor in Young Adam, a movie we here at FilmStew feel was greatly overlooked in USA?
A: I got goose bumps when I watched that scene in Mulholland Drive. It's one of those brilliant moments captured on film. And I feel the same as you about Young Adam. I thought Ewan's performance was brilliant and unfortunately the whole film was completely overlooked here.
Q: Finally, when it comes to Will Ferrell, the star of your comedy Stranger Than Fiction, what DVDs and/or moments stick in your mind with regards to him as a performer?
A: I would say the scene in Old School, when Frank 'The Tank' shoots himself with the tranquilizer dart at the child's birthday party, is pretty classic. Also, on the SNL Best of Will Ferrell Vol. 1 DVD, there is a bonus feature that is of an appearance he did on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. He does the entire interview as Robert Goulet and even sings "These Are a Few of My Favorite Things." It always makes me laugh.
Buena Vista has announced Miramax's Finding Neverland for March 22nd (SRP $29.99 in separate full frame and anamorphic widescreen versions). Extras will include audio commentary with director Marc Foster, producer Richard Gladstein and writer David Magee, deleted scenes with optional commentary, and 3 featurettes (The Magic of Finding Neverland, Creating Neverland and On the Red Carpet).
I enjoyed it, but yes, the film had a stench of calculation I couldn't get over. Actually, I was quite impressed with it. I hadn't seen a film in so long that was better able to draw me into a story of blatant sentimentality with as good pacing in story, acting and even filmmaking. It brought me to reanalyze my thoughts on Depp and basically find little fault with what the film was trying to do. As it has been a week since I've seen the film I realize it was just enjoyment over respectful quality. I almost wanted the film to be more in my head with how much I enjoyed myself.
I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Of course it shamelessly tells you to cry in some scenes, but it does it really well. The most emotionally moving part for me was when Wendy (onstage) lets go of Peter's hand and immediately the camera swings around the theatre. I would watch this film all over again just for that one moment.
foray
'Fiction' fact: Latifah, Thompson
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Queen Latifah and Emma Thompson are joining "Stranger Than Fiction," director Marc Forster's follow-up film to "Finding Neverland." Lindsay Doran is producing under her Three Strange Angels banner. Will Ferrell already has been cast as an obsessive/compulsive IRS auditor who begins to hear a voice that turns out to be an author who is writing a novel in which Ferrell is the ill-fated protagonist. The auditor heeds the narrator's advice and turns his life around. Thompson is in final negotiations to play the author suffering from writer's block, and Latifah is in final negotiations to play a book-company employee whose job is to unblock writers. Maggie Gyllenhaal signed on this week to play Ferrell's unlikely love interest, a baker with anarchist leanings.
Quote from: MacGuffin'Fiction' fact: Latifah, Thompson
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Lindsay Doran is producing under her Three Strange Angels banner.
Holy crap. I first read that as "Lindsay Lohan" producing a film, and my head exploded.
(Good thing I can touch-type.)2LB
Quote from: Two Lane BlacktopHoly crap. I first read that as "Lindsay Lohan" producing a film, and my head exploded.
For your splitting headache:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414002/fullcredits
Quote from: Two Lane BlacktopI first read that as "Lindsay Lohan" producing a film, and my head exploded.
Whoa, same here..
Quote from: MacGuffinQuote from: Two Lane BlacktopHoly crap. I first read that as "Lindsay Lohan" producing a film, and my head exploded.
For your splitting headache:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414002/fullcredits
(The) Fashionistas (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0341350/) is also the title of a porno my friend loves. Haha, no really it's my friend. I have a friend who loves porn. Don't believe me? Well, I do! Still don't believe me? Fuck this, I'm going home.
...
I forgot my ball.
Now I'm going home.
Oh and one more thing.
This also reminds me of when some actress or another -- forget who -- started a production company but had to change the name 'cause it was also related to porno too.
Quote from: wantautopia?This also reminds me of when some actress or another -- forget who -- started a production company but had to change the name 'cause it was also related to porno too.
QuoteGarner's Porn Faux-Pas
17 November 2004 (WENN)
Actress Jennifer Garner had to change the name of her new production company Vandalia Films, after discovering it shared its name with a hardcore porn manufacturer. The Daredevil actress chose the moniker because it was the original name of her home state West Virginia - and even had all her stationary made up before checking. She says, "It was a disaster. Their stuff is disgusting. I can't believe it wasn't checked out in advance. That name is on my credit cards. It's on my business cards. It's on my assistant's business cards. I'm embarrassed."
Saw this tonight, it was beautiful and elegant. Although there was this couple in the back of the teatre who were talking to each other, the guy talked on the phone. and I swear I thought he was giving oral pleasure to her during part of the film....So, beautiful film, but I should have gone to a another showing.
I think if you had killed that noisy couple, no court in America would have convicted you.
Talky people suck.
Quote from: MacGuffinBuena Vista has announced Miramax's Finding Neverland for March 22nd (SRP $29.99 in separate full frame and anamorphic widescreen versions). Extras will include audio commentary with director Marc Foster, producer Richard Gladstein and writer David Magee, deleted scenes with optional commentary, and 3 featurettes (The Magic of Finding Neverland, Creating Neverland and On the Red Carpet).
Old cover:
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New cover:
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I like the old one better...
I saw this again. Have to say it, but this film really is growing on me. The calculations are evident, still, of course, but the film is really good past that. My problem was I expected total art for the first viewing and it wasn't that. Its a really entertaining film and I was better prepared this time around. The worst thought is that I may even see it again and may even write a proper review.
Just sketching for now.
i am not really sure what to say about this movie. I loved it, but its not the type of movie I am going to watch over and over again, because it made me cry just about all the way through.
i definitely feel it deserves an academy for at least one of the actors.
wow, this was a really shitty review. sorry.
Finally saw this tonight and was disappointed.
One of 2004's best films of the year? No no no..
There were some really wonderful moments but as a whole I never felt compelled like I have in other Peter Pan movies. I know it's different than the traditional fantasy element in most Pan films but I was hoping for some magic. Instead of the movie being filled with joy it felt drab. Most of all, I won't ever sit and watch the entire thing again. For me, that makes it at best a bit better than average.
I thought Depp's performance was great, but nothing award worthy really.
I agree with you completley! To me it was a luke-warm film that was far too manipulative. I'm an asshole though, I cried anyways.