Johnny Depp and Freddie Highmore in "Finding Neverland"
courtesy of Disney Home Entertainment
"Finding Johnny Depp"

You can find a brand new Johnny Depp starring in the dramatic, touching new to video movie "Finding Neverland." In this film you will not find a trace of Captain Jack Sparrow of "Pirates of the Caribbean" fame, nor will you find a glimpse of Ed Wood of "Ed Wood" fame. This is the sweet and suave Johnny Depp playing writer James M Barrie.

His co-star in this movie is Kate Winslet who plays a widow with four sons. Barrie befriends them even though he is married and his friendship with the widow causes a lot of talk. But Barrie wants to help the boys, especially the youngest (Freddie Highmore), cope with the loss of their father. He does this by creating the fabled world of "Neverland" and encouraging them to believe in their dreams.

Julie Christie, Dustin Hoffman and Rhada Mitchell co-star and each of them has a pivotal role in the movie. Mitchell is especially impressive as Barrie's estranged wife who wants the marriage to be a good one but finally just gives up on it.

This is a family film that will hold the attention of all adults. It is a tearjerker but that is a positive in a film that touches the heart as much as this one does. It is never maudlin and that makes quite a difference. So get this movie and let the whole family enjoy this gift from director Marc Forster. He gave us entertainment with "Monster's Ball" which was the polar opposite of this movie.

Annette Bening was an Academy Award nominee for her role in "Being Julia," a movie that is now out on DVD. Most of you didn't see this film in the movie theaters as it had limited release. So now is your chance to watch Bening in her award winning role.

Bening plays Julia Lambert, a renowned stage actress who has a husband (Jeremy Irons) who masterminds her career and has brought her much success. But she wants something else and she finds that in a love affair with a much younger man. This relationship could bring her shame but she uses it to bring herself even more fame. She is a woman who can't be stopped and Bening can't either.

Most of us were pulling for Hilary Swank to win, and she did. But after watching this movie you will know why Bening was giving her a run for her money.

Like "Finding Neverland," another good family film is "Fat Albert" which is based on the TV cartoon series created by Bill Cosby. In this movie Albert (Kenan Thompson) and his gang come out of the TV set to help a young girl who is very unhappy. They find life on the "outside" strange but enjoyable.

Thompson makes the perfect Albert. He looks and acts just like the cartoon character, so that is fine casting. Kyla Pratt is also impressive as the young girl Albert helps. So for a night of good family entertainment that really does entertain, pick up "Fat Albert."

Ellen Pompeo is an actress in the new TV series "Grey's Anatomy" and it is getting a lot of buzz. But before she started this TV series she made a movie about art theft called "Art Heist." In it she plays a woman hunting down a painting in Barcelona, Spain. It has been stolen and the owner wants it back. But the Russian Mafia might be involved and that means trouble and danger.

William Baldwin co-stars in this action movie with Pompeo and he and she are both good in their roles. The movie is an okay adventure but it is watching Pompeo that makes it worthwhile.

Another movie that takes place in Spain is "Face of Terror" and this one stars another TV actor of note, Rick Schroder. He plays a man hunting for his sister who has disappeared in Spain. Finding her may prove dangerous to his own life as well as hers.

Kadeem Hardison also stars in this film but it is watching Schroder that makes the movie fun. He has come a long way from his early TV sitcom roots in "Silver Spoons." He gets better with each and every performance and role.

Taking a severe right turn you can watch and analyze the amazing "What the Bleep Do We Know?" This movie is part traditional movie, part animation, part documentary, and part everything else. It has a main character - a woman named Amanda (Marlee Matlin) - and this character goes down the rabbit hole to explore the reality behind reality or the fantasy behind reality. It raises questions about the basic issues of life and then goes on from there.

This is a movie unlike anything else you have seen in a while and it actually begins to make sense as you sit through it. Maybe not at first but after a while it does. So take a chance and expand your mind with "What the Bleep Do We Know?"

If your pre-schooler has watched and enjoyed "Jojo's Circus" on the Disney Channel then you will want to get him/her the new DVD of the same name. The first two titles in this new line of DVD's from Disney are "Take A Bow!" and "Animal A Go-Go." Each DVD also includes a never before viewed episode of the show.

Jojo is a circus clown who is great at charming children and then imparting wisdom and learning, so make sure you invite her into your home through this DVD(s). You won't regret it.

Another TV show you might have watched (or your kids might have seen) is "Beyblade." This is an animated series about spinning tops that do battle for their owners. In this DVD the battling tops release some evil spirits who threaten mankind. Now it is a fight between good and evil. Who (gasp) will win? Get the DVD and see.

 

 

 

 

 

©2005 Jackie K. Cooper

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