'Inspired', in the best Hollywood traditions, by true events, Finding Neverland tells of the creative birth of JM Barrie (Depp), a struggling Scottish-born playwright in early twentieth century London. After his latest play fails miserably, Barrie's theatrical patron (Hoffman) instructs him to write a crowd puller as soon as possible. Numbed by his cold marriage to Mary (an excellent if underused Mitchell) he meets a young widow Sylvia (Winslet) and her four young sons. Awakening his own inner child, Barrie immediately connects with the boys, enchanting them and their mother with his fertile imagination, which also begins to dream up a certain little tale called Peter Pan...
Finding Neverland has already come in for criticism thanks to liberal usage of the facts, but whether anchored in truth or fiction, this is a charming, tender celebration of the power of innocence. As he proved with the extraordinary Monster's Ball (2001), Forster allows dramatic events to unfold naturally, revelling in the lush stylistics the screenplay grants him. Indeed, in the hands of a director less confident in the abilities of his cast, Finding Neverland's tone could have descended into sentimentality. Forster has faith in the abilities of his talented actors, allowing them space to impose themselves on the characters and, in the process, create an enchanting back-story to a children's classic. It's a slow burner but Finding Neverland is a winner.