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Finding Neverland:

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Since Johnny Depp virtually is in every scene, the movie absolutely rises or falls on his performance.
It falls like a stoned bar-maid at 5 a.m.
To make the character sympathetic and free of ANY doubt as to his true interests in the boys, Depp chose a lifeless, bloodless, androgynous, and fey portrayal.
It doesn't, it cannot, work. Enjoyably watching such a caricature for several hours just is not possible.
One scene was especially weak: four boys, one of whom (of course) is a bit antagonistic and cynical toward him, are treated to Depp dancing with a large hound. The boys are to picture a dancing bear in a carnival. Right.
This scene rings as false as several of those Robin William's class scenes in "Dead Poet's Society," wherein adolescent boys suddenly become awestruck as a 50 yr.-old made an ass of himself.
With the backdrop of the Michael Jackson case (movies don't exist in a vacuum), Neverland almost seems like an apologia for pederasty.

Follow Ups:

Re: Finding Neverland: Half that bad! - patrickU 01:21:50 04/08/05 (1)
Well I took yesterday the opportunity to look at it. I must say that I was ready for the worst, but, good for my time, it did not realised.
Maybe you should have invites some orphans in your living room, dear Tin?
Half that good!
Yes Mr. Deep underplay, but does it not always? Does he feel that his apparent beauty as a man, is show enough for our money? His Scottish accent well...I had the chance to also have a French soundtrack...Still he has a certain kind of quality in his presence.
There, through the whole film you had some nice imaginatives touch, little small fantasies, trying hard to get the adult out of us.
AND one remarkable apparition, you failed to mention, the little boy playing " Peter " is incredible! A real du Maurier ( he-he ) July is a "Grande Dame " also, it was pleasure to meet her again...
All in all, nice.
- Re: Finding Neverland: Half that bad! - Analog Scott 10:29:16 04/09/05 (0)
  I agree with everything you said but one thing. "Mr. Depp" does not always underplay his characters. I think the fine acting from all the women in this movie also tends to go without comment. I suppose it needed more explosions and car crashes for some people's taste.
Agree mostly - jbmcb 08:41:22 04/06/05 (0)
I thought Depp wasn't terrible, he seems to be only speaking with an English accent in all of his recent and future films, so he's getting a lot of practice :)
The fantasy scenes seemed a bit choppy, not well integrated. That dancing bear scene was a groaner, though the pirate scene was better.
I agree the whole man/boy platonic love thing was a bit of a put off, but as far as the Jackson trial timing thing goes, remember this film was probably started three or four years ago, the producers could have sat on it for a couple years I guess, but would it have made a difference?
And now, a short list of Mr. Depp's English accent accomplishments:
Sleepy Hollow (More of a modified, early American-English accent)
From Hell
Chocolat (Irish accent!)
Pirates Of The Carribean (Pirate accent!)
Finding Neverland (Scottish, but mostly English)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Coming soon)
The Corpse Bride (Coming soon)
Pirates of the Carribean 2 (Coming somewhat soon)
Pirates of the Carribean 3 (Coming in a while :)

/*Music is subjective. Sound is not.*/
agree, and his phony accent did not help, either. - Duilawyer 06:46:46 04/06/05 (18)
They could not find a real Englishman to play the part?
- Re: agree, and his phony accent did not help, either. - Analog Scott 10:30:59 04/09/05 (0)
  Gosh, I guess if you thought it was supposed to be an English accent it would have sounded phoney. It was dead on for what it was supposed to be though.
- You mean, an Englishman to play a Scotsman. That would make you happier? nt - clarkjohnsen 07:07:47 04/06/05 (3)
  d
  - Re: He-he...Neither party would appreciate....nt - patrickU 07:52:34 04/06/05 (2)
    nt
    - Some people here think that all English talk more-or-less alike. Do the French...?... ;-) nt - clarkjohnsen 18:38:17 04/06/05 (1)
      e
      - Re:Yes, less-or-more... nt - patrickU 00:37:03 04/07/05 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Some people here think that all English talk more-or-less alike. Do the French...?... ;-) nt posted by clarkjohnsen on April 6, 2005 at 18:38:17:
        
        nt
- It is very hard for an Englishman to play an American - tinear 07:02:47 04/06/05 (12)
  or vice-versa. It isn't the accent, per se, that trips the actor up, it's the linguistic cadence. The rhythm is the hardest thing to learn in most languages; kind of like dancing with a tongue.
  - Have you by any chance caught the series House? - Audiophilander 10:49:38 04/07/05 (2)
    > > > "It isn't the accent, per se, that trips the actor up, it's the linguistic cadence. The rhythm is the hardest thing to learn in most languages; kind of like dancing with a tongue." < < <
    Good point; what amazes me is that popular British film & television actor Hugh Laurie has managed to pull this off as the featured star in the American hit medical series House. His accent is indiscernable; fooled me completely!
    AuPh
    - Hugh Laurie (Open in New Window)
    - Hugh Laurie was brilliant in the BlackAdder series - grinagog 20:13:12 04/07/05 (1)
      invariably as a bumbling twit
      Grins
      - Re: Hugh Laurie was brilliant in the BlackAdder series - Ears 01:24:34 04/08/05 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Hugh Laurie was brilliant in the BlackAdder series posted by grinagog on April 7, 2005 at 20:13:12:
        
        He's perfect as Bertie in the "Jeeves & Wooster" series. And well matched by Stephen Fry's Jeeves. Got the complete DVD set awhile ago and have enjoyed it several times already.
  - Re:But check out - rico 10:47:06 04/06/05 (4)
    Englishman Damien Lewis as the lead role in Spielberg's HBO mini-series, "Band of Brothers". He is very convincing as a World War II American officer.
    To see his range, also see him in the TV mini-series remake of "the Forsythe Saga, Parts I and II.
    - sure, but Michael Caine in the "Around the Bend" playing a Southerner. - Duilawyer 19:51:59 04/06/05 (0)
      REAL bad.
    - Even better, Dominic West in The Wire. nt - clarkjohnsen 18:40:09 04/06/05 (0)
      s
    - Re:But check out - jamesgarvin 11:49:27 04/06/05 (1)
      Or Brit Jeremy Northam in Happy, Texas.
      - Or Tim Roth who seems permanently "American" cast (nt) - grinagog 21:48:16 04/06/05 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Re:But check out posted by jamesgarvin on April 6, 2005 at 11:49:27:
        
        Grins
  - Re: It is very hard for an Englishman to play an American - patrickU 07:53:17 04/06/05 (3)
    I just received the DVD....
    - Shocking but true: of the 5 boys Barrie was so close to, - tinear 08:32:15 04/06/05 (2)
      one committed suicide with his gay lover and another also took his life. This would not be inconsistent with victims of child sexual abuse, though I hesitate to make an outright conclusion. Still, the least said about this strange man, the better...
      - Re: Shocking but true: of the 5 boys Barrie was so close to, - patrickU 09:36:22 04/06/05 (1)
        
        In Reply to: Shocking but true: of the 5 boys Barrie was so close to, posted by tinear on April 6, 2005 at 08:32:15:
        
        Think of Baden-Powell. Or at Caroll....
        
        Heck no! YOU think of 'em... nt - tinear 15:51:20 04/06/05 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Re: Shocking but true: of the 5 boys Barrie was so close to, posted by patrickU on April 6, 2005 at 09:36:22:
        
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