Just saw this tonight, as part of a "Teresa's Men" birthday celebration (which also included a Captain Jack poster and a 12" Spike doll). It hasn't been released here yet but there was a well-timed sneak preview.
This one's really gonna depend on the viewer, I think. Charming, touching, funny, and tearjerking without the usual "OK, here the audience will cry" manner. No cardboard characters, everyone gets a moment. The inspirations, subtle and otherwise, that the audience recognize as future Peter Pan lines are well planted and not heavy-handed. Dustin Hoffman provides just the right amount of humor right when it's needed. Julie Christie is great as the Davies grandmother. Everyone turned in fantastic performances.
So. Oscar for Johnny Depp?
I don't think so. Or, rather, he might win for this but I don't think he should.
He plays J. M. Barrie perfectly, playful and sincere and delightful, no false notes the whole movie. And it was no stretch for him at all. He's done quite a few movies where he's really acted, made us believe in some pretty strange characters and made us identify with them anyway. I would have given him the Oscar for PotC, personally. But while his Barrie is excellent, there are other actors who could have done as well. Essentially I think if he gets the Oscar for this, it will really be for all the movies where he didn't get the recognition he deserved.
However, said opinion -- which Teresa and I talked about for the whole 45 minute drive back -- doesn't take away from my beleif that this was one of the better movies I've seen this year. Just be sure to hang around during the credits.
Not because there's anything else to see, but you'll want a few minutes to pull yourself together while it's still dark.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I cannot wait to see this movie. I don't understand why Johnny Depp has never won an Oscar. He's such an excellent actor. He should have won an Oscar as far as Edward Scissorhands. He's probably the best actor in Hollywood.
Posted by digging_holes (Member # 6237) on :
No.
Posted by Tater (Member # 7035) on :
Johnny Depp should have definately won an Oscar for PoTC. I haven't seen this yet, but I'm looking forward to it. I hope he wins one for Finding Neverland, even if he doesn't deserve it for that movie, an Oscar's an Oscar. Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
Arg! Forgot to mention the boy, Peter.
Played by 12-year-old Freddie Highmore, he'd have stolen the movie had he been acting opposite anyone besides Depp. Maybe that's what the Oscar will be for?
The kid's incredible. Utterly believable, no cutesy kid acting at all. If Highmore has never known true tragedy in his life before this, than he should get the award for making us believe it.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Yeah, word has it that Depp recommended him for the part of Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I'm excited to see that one too.
But this one!! Thanks for the review Chris. I really really want to see it. Soon.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
quote: No.
You don't think Johnny Depp's a good actor, dh? Or you don't think he's "the best actor in Hollywood" or you're just generally negating Finding Neverland as a good movie or the fact that he should have won an Oscar?
[ November 21, 2004, 09:46 PM: Message edited by: Teshi ]
Posted by Boris (Member # 6935) on :
quote: Johnny Depp should have definately won an Oscar for PoTC.
He did do an excellent job in that movie, but the good ol' Academy doesn't even LOOK at comedies or action movies (with a few exceptions), which is what PoTC was (combination of both, more or less). The Oscars are about as political an award ceremony as they come IMO. To me it's about the same as the literary community no being able to look at Science Fiction as a legitimate source of quality literature. As a result, something that is a true work of art can sometimes be ignored because of genre and perception. It's a real shame.
Posted by Tater (Member # 7035) on :
Wow, that is a shame. How come hardcore comedy movie fans haven't protested that by now?
Posted by dh (Member # 6929) on :
*shrug*
He's an actor. I don't think he's the best in Hollywood, not by a long shot, but he's also very far from being the worst. I don't think his performance in PotC was oscar-worthy either. I can't speak for most of his other movies, because I haven't seen most of them.
Posted by Xaposert (Member # 1612) on :
Definitely looking forward to this one.... Peter Pan rules, and so does Johnny Depp, and so does Miramax.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
quote: can't speak for most of his other movies, because I haven't seen most of them.
He's a very versatile actor with a great eye for parts. He does deserve an Oscar merely for what he can do and how he does it- they just have to pick an appropriate film to give him one for.
I am judging from these movies, which I have seen him in:
Crybaby Chocolat Don Juan deMarco Pirates of the Carribean Edward Scissorhands
He's either a very good actor who makes bad parts brilliant or a normal actor who picks good parts. If you've read the original PotC script (abysmal) you will see that it's mostly likely he is the first kind.
Posted by Anti-Chris (Member # 4452) on :
I went and saw a sneak peak, too. The movie is magical and masterful. I don't think it will get best film nomination, but it will get a nomination for Depp, but he won't win. Still, this is a fantastic movie, and of the movies coming out wednesday, and out now, I recommend this one more than the others.
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
It's not showing in Salt Lake yet. I don't understand why the release was delayed here. It looks like it opened in some theaters in larger markets back on the 12th.
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
I saw it this afternoon. Not a sneak preview, but a regular paid-for movie - it's showing once a day until Wednesday when it hits wide release, I believe. The theatre was completely sold out - even the "in case of emergency seats" were taken.
I really enjoyed the movie. I loved the children; naturally Peter was one of my favourites, but I also adored the kid who played George and when he and "Uncle James" had that moment in the theatre. The movie was overall delightful, and at the end, I saw well over 75% of the audience wiping their eyes.
As far as awards go, I can see at best three nominations: Picture, Actor, Supporting Actress, but none of them will win. Besides, Miramax has had rotten luck with awards the past few years. They blame Peter Jackson
Final opinion: Very worth it. 7 out of 8.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Not coming out here until January.
I am really really looking forward to it though. (And my, oh my Johnny looks nice on the promotional posters...)
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Mirimax? Rotten luck? Didn't they win best picture with Chicago?
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
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