Saturday, December 28, 2013


 

SAVING MR. BANKS  3.8***

 

    Tom Hanks is Walt Disney and Emma Thompson is P.L. Travers, the author of the "Mary Poppins" books in "Saving Mr. Banks,". For twenty years, P.L. Travers has refused to sell the rights to her Mary Poppins books to Walt Disney. Finally, her agent tells her that she’s running out of money because she doesn't have any new sales or residuals coming in and she really ought to take Walt up on his offer. He has promised her final say on the film.

Reluctantly, the uptight, very proper P.L. Travers goes to Hollywood and proceeds to drive Walt Disney, composers Richard and Robert Sherman and everyone else insane with her ridiculous demands and criticisms. Despite his best efforts, Disney cannot get her to warm up to him, and after a period of time, she still hasn't signed over the rights. In a way, Disney understands because "the mouse" (that would become Mickey) is very personal for him, and when he had the chance, he wouldn't sell the character. But in another way, he is mystified. Travers herself doesn't seem to understand what drives her stubbornness, yet she keeps having flashbacks to her own childhood in Australia with her sweet albeit drunken father ( played exceptionally well by Colin Farrell) who died young when she was a teen, and her unhappy mother (Ruth Wilson).

The film should really be called "Solving P.L. Travers" because it's the story of a woman coming to terms with her life and being able to let go of the past. Emma Thompson is absolutely wonderful as the prim and proper British dame, firing off snappy dialogue laced with sardonic wit , an unlikeable woman who becomes more likable as we gradually understand her, and Hanks is fantastic as Disney, a remarkable man with great vision but is also one who is used to winning people over… having his way.

Saving Mr. Banks" is a truly great and beautifully told film.  It's a movie that exemplifies why we go to the movies and what Disney stands for as an entertainment corporation. It is equal parts heartfelt, witty, charming, entertaining, and emotionally satisfying.  One of the best movies of the year and will be in the Oscar race.

Clark

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