Neverwas (2005)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Joshua Michael Stern

Writer:

Joshua Michael Stern (writer)

Release Date:

4 August 2006 (Bulgaria)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Mystery

Tagline:

Every fairy tale needs its hero.

Plot:

A well-educated psychiatrist leaves an academic career to work at an institution where his father, a novelist...

Plot Keywords:

Book | Psychiatrist | Children's Book | Schizophrenic | Paranoia

Cast

Aaron Eckhart	...	Zach Riley
Ian McKellen	...	Gabriel Finch
Brittany Murphy	...	Maggie Blake
Nick Nolte	...	T.L. Pierson
Jessica Lange	...	Katherine Pierson
William Hurt	...	Dr. Peter Reed
Bill Bellamy	...	Martin Sands
Alan Cumming	...	Jake
Vera Farmiga	...	Eleanna
Michael Moriarty	...	Dick
Ken Roberts	...	Terrence
Cynthia Stevenson	...	Sally
Lorena Gale	...	Judy
Tabitha St. Germain	...	Receptionist
Tim Henry	...	Husky Sheriff

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic issues.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Netherlands:6 | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-11

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Kingsgate Films

Goofs:

Continuity: In the shot of Zach entering the tunnel from behind, he's not holding a lantern but in the next shot from inside the tunnel, he's carrying one.

Promising

Zach Riley (Aaron Eckhart) is a talented, young psychologist/psychiatrist who returns to his hometown to work at the local mental institution. Dr. Reed, who runs the facility, is skeptical at why Dr. Riley would leave his prestigious position and join an institution that has barely a reputation. Dr. Riley visits his drunk mother and meets an old friend, a beautiful and well-played Brittany Murphy. Gabriel Finch, a reticent patient, surprisingly warms up to Dr. Riley and they begin therapy treatment, to the surprise of all. We soon learn, however, the everyone has an agenda and everyone has secrets. Dr. Riley's father was the tormented but brilliant author of a children's book, called Neverwas, with a character named after the youth Dr. Riley. The film is a dark, at times, fancy that wraps the stories of Dr. Riley, his father, and the mysterious patient Gabriel Finch together. The movie is well acted, and the bit parts are equally compelling. However, the ending isn't what you expect and I was left empty, wishing that the film had taken a different tact. Eckhart, as a vulnerable and tortured soul, is fantastic, a good turn from his egotistical / angry roles in previous films. Brittany Murphy is surprising elegant. Wait for the DVD.