27/50x2: Finding Neverland

The creation of a story, a film or an idea can sometimes even be more fulfilling than the finished project. But, what if the finished project is an iconic masterpiece known to everyone in the world? Would that story still be interesting?

Well, in Finding Neverland it certainly was. J.M. Barrie (Johnny Depp) had just wrapped up the play called 'Little Mary', which became a serious flop. Barrie heads off to a park to think and finds himself becoming wrapped up with the Davies family.

This family consists of four boys (most notably Freddie Highmore as Peter) and their mother Sylvia (Kate Winslet). The boys allow Barrie to act like a kid again and go on many adventures together. Barrie's wife, Mary (Radha Mitchell) and the boys' grandmother, Emma (Julie Christie), do not agree with the amount of time that Barrie is spending with the family. Especially since Sylvia is suffering from an unknown illness that she is desperately trying to keep from the children.

But, Barrie has given the children something they need - a sort of surrogate father figure - while also supplying friendship and companionship to Sylvia, but they are also giving Barrie something he needed as well - the inspiration to write what is now known as Peter Pan.

Barrie, however, needs to coax the producer, Charles (Dustin Hoffman), into allowing him to show the play as it is not something that the upperclass, stuffy people would usually enjoy. Barrie has a plan up his sleeve, though, as he brings children from a nearby orphanage and scatters them throughout the crowd to watch the production. And as the children react to the play - the adults react as well. 

The film is said to be semi-autobiographical so I am not sure how much of the story is true, but I was definitely enthralled by the performances of Depp, Winslet and Highmore. They were all at the top of their game.

Kind of nice to know that the play/film about a boy who never wanted to grow up - came from a man who loved acting like a kid.

Also, kudos to Hoffman for returning to the Peter Pan franchise. Of course, he played Capt. Hook in Hook years earlier.

Grade: 

48/50: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

I knew this movie was a bit of a mind bending film. Something that you would need to pay close attention to, however, I still decided to watch it pretty late. It was pretty much the only time I could watch it.

That being said, it was still a very interesting film.

It just goes to prove (like I said in my review of Reign Over Me with Adam Sandler) that some of these comedic performers can actually act.

So, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (which was said in a perfect way during the film, a quote from Alexander Pope) stars Jim Carrey stars as Joel Barish, a pretty dull person that seems pretty dull to the world.

As the movie opens you see Barish eyeing a certain young lady, Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet) who is waiting for a train. She is the total opposite of Barish's introvert as her extrovert personality is the perfect ying to Barish's yang.

They have a pretty amazing time together as we see, over a few day or weeks (I am not sure of the time table that is shown), but the next thing you see is Barish in his car crying his eyes out. But, what happened?

Well, we find out that they have broken up, and Barish is having a difficult time getting over her. He runs into Kruczynski at her job at a library and tries to speak to her - but something is different, she appears to have no idea who he is.

Staying with his friends, Carrie (Jane Adams) and Rob (David Cross), Barish finds a card that simply reads (paraphrasing here) that Clementine has had Joel Barish erased from her memory and to not mention him in front of her.

Well, Barish decides to see what is up and has a meeting setup with the doctor that did the procedure, Dr. Mierzwiak (Tom Wilkinson). Wilkinson explains the procedure and Barish, although pissed that Clementine did it, decides to erase her as well.

This is sort of fun in a way. A new way of showing a back story, as Stan (Mark Ruffalo) comes into Barish's house to erase Clementine from his memory during his sleep. We go through a ton of Barish's memories of his time with Clementine - not really in order, but enough that we see their true feelings for each other and some of the reasons for their breakup.

During this time, Barish is re-living these memories as well. And midway through realizes he doesn't want to let go of Clementine - but what can he do about it now?

At first I was very confused - which may have been because I watched it so late and was tired - but as the movie went on I really started to enjoy it more. And things started to become more and more clear to me as it rolled on.

Some great performances in this film from some great actors. Carrey was amazing out of his normal comedic roles. Ruffalo, though a small role, continues to impress. Kirsten Dunst plays Mary a receptionist in the doctors office, who plays an important role that I will not identify here.

Finally, we have Elijah Wood, who plays Patrick. A leech who also works in the doctors office and I despised in this role - who also plays an important role that I cannot reveal here for those who have not seen it.

It started off a little odd for me, but like I said, I really came around. It looked amazing and the acting was spectacular in all roles.

Grade: