[Movie Review] Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
Plot Summary: Author P. L. Travers reflects on her difficult childhood while meeting with filmmaker Walt Disney during production for the adaptation of her novel, Mary Poppins.
Director: John Lee Hancock
Writers: Kelly Marcel, Sue Smith
Runtime: 125 min
Main Cast:
- Emma Thompson as P.L. Travers
- Tom Hanks as Walt Disney
- Colin Farrell as Travers Goff
- Ruth Wilson as Margaret Goff
- Paul Giamatti as Ralph
- Jason Schwartzman as Richard Sherman
- B.J. Novak as Robert Sherman
Review: by Anthony and Lee
When we heard that Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks were doing a Disney movie about Mary Poppins, we knew we had to see it, not just for the plot but for the actors as well.
What We Liked:
The story was told beautifully, both in its writing and execution. It was endearing and humorous, and it made me (Lee) cry on a few occasions, but it wasn’t just what happened that made it so good. The way the story unfolded was what was distinguishing about the movie.
Flashbacks are very risky undertakings and have the potential to ruin a movie, but the transitions between the past and present were masterfully handled. The flashbacks weren’t rushed; rather, they were appropriately paced and added proper insight and explanation to their accompanying scenes.
The flashbacks were utilized effectively to show how the characters from Mary Poppins evolved from P.L. Travers’ life and explain why she was so adamant about her demands.
In that regard, Emma Thompson was fantastic as P.L. Travers. Her dry and quick-witted British humor was great; even when she was being cantankerous and unpleasant, she was still funny.
Tom Hanks also did a great job as Walt Disney. He was charming and funny and completely sold me on Walt’s passion for creating greatness for children and adults alike through his Disney Movies.
While limited in his screen time compared to the other big names, Paul Giamatti really made the most of his character, and his developing friendship with P.L. Travers was heartwarming.
Last but certainly not least, Colin Farrell was spectacular as Travers Goff, portraying his duplicity adeptly.
What We Didn’t Like:
There was not much to dislike about the movie. In fact, the only thing we could say to criticize it at all is that it could have been improved with a Julie Andrews cameo.
Summary
Saving Mr. Banks was great. It was rare because its humor and storytelling was aimed at a more mature audience rather than for children, though it was not altogether inappropriate for children either.
User Review
( votes)You can purchase Saving Mr. Banks on Blu Ray from Amazon here:
Images Courtesy of IMDB
Related articles
- Movie Review: Saving Mr. Banks (2013) (ghstbnes.wordpress.com)
- Movie Review – Saving Mr. Banks (2013) (manofyesterday.wordpress.com)
- Saving Mr. Banks review- a Disney history lesson (en4news.com)
- Saving Mr. Banks (2013) – A review (bumpynightsandbeautifulfriendships.wordpress.com)
- Movie Review: Thompson and Hanks seem Oscar bound in the sublime “Saving Mr. Banks” (rogersmovienation.com)
- Movie Review: ‘Saving Mr. Banks,’ With Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson (nytimes.com)
Saving Mr Banks tells the story of Walt Disney’s battle to get the rights to make Mary Poppins into a movie. I wasn’t expecting to like this but was completely blown away.
It is beautifully put together, is hilarious in parts and very touching and emotional at other stages, but is not overly sappy or cheesy.
There are some outstanding performances here. Emma Thompson plays Mrs Travers beautifully – a cantankerous and stubborn lady, yet you can’t dislike her. Tom Hanks does a good job of playing Walt Disney – a tough role for anyone but he seems to suit it, so long as you can get past the terrible fake southern accent which is worse than Dick Van Dyke’s attempts at an English accent in Mary Poppins.
However the stand-out performance is, surprisingly, delivered by Colin Farrell as Mrs Travers’ father. He brings amazing range and emotion to a character that is simultaneously a loving, sweet father and a man caged in by life and personal demons.
Go see it for yourself when it comes out at the end of November. I’m looking forward to watching it again.
More about the movie you can also find it here
http://movieinfodb.com/en/movie/140823/Saving+Mr.+Banks-2013