KINSEY
Directed by Bill Condon
In theatres
(*****)

FINDING NEVERLAND
Directed by Marc Forrester
In theatres
(****)
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Written By: John H. Foote
Two of several new biographical films arrive in theatres this week, both with strong Oscar buzz surrounding them, in particular Kinsey, the film of the life of Dr. Alfred Kinsey, a biologist who became the first known sexologist in the mid to late forties.

Kinsey, directed by Oscar winning writer Bill Condon, explores the life of the man who paved the path to the sexual revolution with his landmark studies in human sexuality entitled Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, published in 1948, and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female, which caused more than a scandal when published in 1953. In a fascinating, straight forward style, the picture explores in great detail the manner in which Kinsey went from studying the gall wasp to human sexuality, brought on largely by a disastrous wedding night and having no where to turn to get answers. Under the tyrannical rule of an over bearing father he was taught that anything that gives pleasure is sinful, though he manages to crawl out of the shadow in his studies. Aided by his devoted wife Clara (Laura Linney) he tours the United States asking brutally honest questions of everyone who agrees to be interviewed by him.

In a towering, sensitive performance, Liam Neeson does his finest work since Schindler's List (1993); quietly slipping under the skin of this brilliant, though shy man who will over the course of his studies battle with his own sexuality. This is a daring performance from Neeson, who carries the film with a strong performance that should see him earn an Oscar nomination for best actor. One can see the curiosity of the scientist, the giddy delight when he makes a breakthrough, and the horror of the many accusations leveled at him after the publication of his studies on women. To his immense credit, Neeson lets us inside his mind to see the brain that makes this man tick.

He is ably supported by Linney in the difficult role of the film's conscience, Peter Sarsgaard as his assistant and lover, Timothy Hutton as the smooth interviewer and John Lithgow as the maniacal father.

The studies of sexuality are presented authentically and quite graphically but never cross the line into being exploitive.

Kinsey is simply a brilliant film; easily among the finest of the year.

Finding Neverland offers Johnny Depp the chance to again flex his acting muscles in the role of J.M. Barrie, the man who wrote Peter Pan. Depp is among the finest actors of his generation, constantly surprising audiences and critics with his courage in the roles he takes. This is a man who could have coasted as a move star on his looks, but chose instead to be an artist and in most of his roles downplays his beauty. In the past he has been astonishing in films such as Edward Scissorhands (1990), Benny and Joon (1993), Ed Wood (1994), Don Juan DeMarco (1995), Donnie Brasco (1997), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) and most recently as the swishy pirate in The Pirates of the Caribbean 2003) which earned him his only Oscar nomination for best actor. What Depp does in his acting is dare; never content to take the easy route he dares to be different and unique in each performance, constantly challenging himself with the work, which is of course the hallmark of any great actor. Finally the world is taking notice of his gifts.

As Barrie he finds the child trapped inside the man when he encounters a widow and her four plays at play one afternoon in the park. They become friends, and he their playmate, involved in their wild games of pirates and pretend, the idea for Pan slowly percolating in his mind. Obviously his wife is unimpressed by this friendship with the young widow, nicely portrayed by Kate Winslet, but that does not stop the writer from moving forward. More so than ever before he finds himself at home while at lay with the boys, gradually understanding that perhaps he has never grown up and perhaps some men never really do. The play time becomes his research, but his research becomes his play time as well.

Peter Pan becomes his most famous work, just recently made into a major feature film last year.

Depp is nothing short of brilliant in the film, though I was bothered that the film skirted over the more tragic elements of Barrie's life. In knowing his history, so much of Peter Pan becomes dark and mysterious, as though the writer was exorcising demons when he wrote the novel and play so long.

Marc Forrester's follow-up film to his Oscar winning Monsters Ball (2001) displays a director at home working with actors, as this film, like Monsters Ball (2001) is populated with strong performances, including Dustin Hoffman as Barrie's manager, and Winslet as the widow he befriends.

The hallmark of any great biography is honesty, and if the film teaches us something about the subject. Both did, and both men deserve Oscar attention.







© Copyright 2004 Hollywood North Magazine Inc.