UK/US (2004): Drama
A yearning for lost innocence sparks the journey in director Marc Forster's whimsical period drama. Johnny Depp stars as J.M. Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan, in this tender and visually exciting portrait of the people and events that inspired his evergreen children's story. While walking his dog in Edwardian London, Barrie encounters the Llewelyn Davies brothers (Freddie Highmore, Nick Roud, Joe Prospero, Luke Spill) and their widowed mother Sylvia (Kate Winslet). Pensive after a lukewarm response to his latest play, he finds distraction in their company, regaling the children with vividly imagined games set in the world of Neverland. The words soon begin to flow but tongues start to wag as Barrie spends more and more time with the Llewelyn Davies', thus undermining his marriage and inviting the cool disdain of Sylvia's mother (Julie Christie). But a greater tragedy is set to strike, finally forcing Barrie and the boys to put away childish things. Speculation that Barrie was a paedophile is raised but quickly dismissed, with Forster offering no other clues as to what made the author tick and giving Depp little room to manoeuvre in the role of cardboard cutout nice guy. Barrie's bond with young Peter is clearly the pulse of the story, which is always at its most compelling in their scenes together and bolstered by Freddie Highmore's startlingly heartrending performance. (Film Colony/Miramax) -- Stella Papamichael, BBC Films
7 nominations, 1 Award
· Achievement in Music (Score) 2004: Jan A. P. Kaczmarek
· Best Picture of the Year 2004: Film Colony/Miramax. Richard N. Gladstein and Nellie Bellflower, producers.
· Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 2004: Johnny Depp
· Achievement in Writing (Adapted Screenplay) 2004: David Magee
· Achievement in Art Direction 2004: Gemma Jackson, art direction; Trisha Edwards, set decoration
· Achievement in Costume Design 2004: Alexandra Byrne
· Achievement in Film Editing 2004: Matt Chesse