New Weekly (Australia) January 10, 2005

IN TO DEPP

Edited by Tiffany Dunk

Finding Neverland star Johnny Depp tells NW why he thinks we should all nurture the child within

Do you find the idea of a boy who never wants to grow up inspirational or tragic?

I find it inspirational. Children are children for a very short period of time and all too soon the weight of the world starts throwing layers of muck on your shoulders and you lose some of the qualities we have as children. We lose a kind of curiosity, fascination and openness to things, and we become jaded very early - especially in this day and age.

Have you found your own version of J.M. Barrie's Neverland?

The idea of Neverland is that it can be whatever you want it to be. You can close your eyes and go there. For me, my everything is my kids, my girl, my family. Pure happiness. So I've arrived there, luckily, and I'm blessed in that sense.

You're often described as childlike. Is that a fair comment?

Yes, I think so. It's a theme that I have returned to now and again. It's a fascinating theme; what society deems as normal and abnormal, and who decides and why. How that judgment is placed on people - a lot of times people in the public eye, but also people in villages and small towns. "Oh that guy is different. He's the weirdo." Well, why is he? I think it's great to retain certain childlike qualities.

What was your own childhood like?

For the most part it was great. You know, pretty normal. I mean, we definitely had our moments, there were times when it was very difficult and there were rough things we had to go through as children. But compared to what a lot of kids have to go through in this world, my childhood was a blessing, so I really can't complain too much.

When you were growing up did you ever feel like an outsider?

Oh, yeah, absolutely. I felt completely and utterly confused by everything that was going on around me. It was the one thing that the teachers didn't want you to do in school - you know, question things. But I always wanted to know "Why?". It really pissed them off but it shouldn't because it's a fucking valid question. It's the only question there is to ask.

Did you enjoy working with Kate Winslet on this film?

Oh, yeah. We hadn't worked together before and she's amazing. She is so cool. And it's so great not to have to lie about someone! You do interviews sometimes and it's like, "Oh, she was terrific... Next question!" I'm happy to say that in this case I can gush on and on about Kate.

What do you like about her?

She's just real, isn't she? There's no pretence, no weirdness, no bullshit, no diva, she's just real. She's a great girl and a great mother, which is impressive and really made me love her even more. And she obviously is a great actress. She's very special and I hope we get to do something together again. And I'm sure we will.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Finding Neverland
Starring: Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Radha Mitchell
Director: Marc Forster
Rated: PG Rank: ****

PLOT: James Barrie is a playwright whose last production achieved only mediocre success. Out in the park one day, seeking inspiration for a follow-up, he meets a young mother and her children and immediately strikes up a friendship with them, his wild imagination appealing to the youngsters. As their relationship matures, Barrie begins to use them as inspiration for his next work - Peter Pan.

What's right with it? Finding Neverland is an enchanting and moving tale that will have you laughing out loud as well as crying buckets before the end. It seems that Johnny Depp can do very little wrong at the moment - an actor who can lift even the most tedious film, he is a delight in a movie of this quality. His turn as Barrie is imbued with a childlike charm that endears the writer to others, even as it endangers his own family life. Set against his vibrancy, Kate Winslet, as the young mother, shows a decorous grace and manages to be subtly emotional in a role that could very easily have become twee. There's also plenty of fun to be had looking for the clues that shaped the classic tale of Peter Pan in Barrie's mind. This flick has got "Oscar" written all over it.

What's wrong with it? Some people may find this movie overly sentimental, and the whole message about the liberating power of the imagination seems a shade forced and obvious at times.