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.
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Topic - Finding Neverland: - tinear 06:01:06 04/06/05 (22)
- Re: Finding Neverland: Half that bad! - patrickU 01:21:50 04/08/05 (1)
- Re: Finding Neverland: Half that bad! - Analog Scott 10:29:16 04/09/05 (0)
- Agree mostly - jbmcb 08:41:22 04/06/05 (0)
- agree, and his phony accent did not help, either. - Duilawyer 06:46:46 04/06/05 (18)
- Re: agree, and his phony accent did not help, either. - Analog Scott 10:30:59 04/09/05 (0)
- You mean, an Englishman to play a Scotsman. That would make you happier? nt - clarkjohnsen 07:07:47 04/06/05 (3)
- Re: He-he...Neither party would appreciate....nt - patrickU 07:52:34 04/06/05 (2)
- Some people here think that all English talk more-or-less alike. Do the French...?... ;-) nt - clarkjohnsen 18:38:17 04/06/05 (1)
- Re:Yes, less-or-more... nt - patrickU 00:37:03 04/07/05 (0)
- It is very hard for an Englishman to play an American - tinear 07:02:47 04/06/05 (12)
- Have you by any chance caught the series House? - Audiophilander 10:49:38 04/07/05 (2)
- Hugh Laurie was brilliant in the BlackAdder series - grinagog 20:13:12 04/07/05 (1)
- Re: Hugh Laurie was brilliant in the BlackAdder series - Ears 01:24:34 04/08/05 (0)
- Re:But check out - rico 10:47:06 04/06/05 (4)
- sure, but Michael Caine in the "Around the Bend" playing a Southerner. - Duilawyer 19:51:59 04/06/05 (0)
- Even better, Dominic West in The Wire. nt - clarkjohnsen 18:40:09 04/06/05 (0)
- Re:But check out - jamesgarvin 11:49:27 04/06/05 (1)
- Or Tim Roth who seems permanently "American" cast (nt) - grinagog 21:48:16 04/06/05 (0)
- Re: It is very hard for an Englishman to play an American - patrickU 07:53:17 04/06/05 (3)
- Shocking but true: of the 5 boys Barrie was so close to, - tinear 08:32:15 04/06/05 (2)
- Re: Shocking but true: of the 5 boys Barrie was so close to, - patrickU 09:36:22 04/06/05 (1)
- Heck no! YOU think of 'em... nt - tinear 15:51:20 04/06/05 (0)