140 Character Movie Review – #140RVW
Sure, it’s a love poem from Disney to Disney, but that doesn’t lessen the endeavor. There’s a great story here & it’s reportedly mostly true
Spoiler-free Movie Review of Saving Mr. Banks:
When news of the feature film Saving Mr. Banks first broke, my reaction was likely similar to that of many; “sounds like a great premise, but it’s probably going to be a total puff piece”. In some respects, that prediction was accurate on both counts; it certainly engages in some fictionalization, nevertheless it’s a great story.
Saving Mr. Banks tells the story of Walt Disney’s film adaptation of author P.L. Travers’ most famous character, Mary Poppins. Long before seeing the film, the story was legend; Disney promised his daughters that he would make a film version of the Mary Poppins stories and Travers, understandably protective of her work, was widely regarded as nearly impossible to work with in the process.
The film documents the realization of Disney’s twenty-year pursuit of the film rights to the character, placing the story at the film studio where Travers has finally travelled to work on the adaptation. For dramatic purposes, the script posits that Travers has yet to sign the paperwork giving her authorization for the film, thus raising the stakes for Disney’s virtual chess match with the author. In reality, Travers had already signed over the rights when these meetings took place; Disney wasn’t personally involved with every step of the contest, either. Other than those admittedly dramatically satisfying changes, the painful process was reportedly quite accurately depicted.
The film itself is a heartbreaker; entertains very adult themes even as it entertains. Lots of cutesy touches and those are great, but they wisely don’t distract or lessen the seriousness of the tale. Counterpoint to the Hollywood negotiations is the sad tale of the author’s youth which drove the creation of the character and provides context for her rigidity.
In the flashback scenes, young Helen Goff (Annie Rose Buckley) inhabits a seemingly idyllic world of fantasy at the encouragement of her dreamer father, Travers Goff (Colin Farrell). In reality, the doting husband and father badly hides his depression over the seriousness of the world with alcohol, losing his bank manager job and the family’s home in the process. Relocating to deepest Australia for a new chance, Helen’s world is a mixture of whimsy and worry, as her mother buckles under the pressure of raising the family in isolation and her father struggles to sustain his children’s sense of wonder while battling his own addiction.
The acting is absolutely marvelous; Emma Thompson is one of the most brilliant actresses of her generation or any other, and her turn as Helen Goff / Pamela Travers is sublime. She reportedly found the role very difficult, and small wonder. There’s such a depth of emotion and character here.
Her foil, Walt Disney himself, is played to perfection by Tom Hanks. Oddly enough for such an iconic figure, this is the first time the character has been played in a motion picture. You aren’t expecting a hatchet job from a Disney picture, and you don’t get one, but the film plays it mostly straight. While you’ll fall in love with Disney’s folksy charm, it doesn’t totally shy away from his warts, and the story is far more sympathetic to Travers.
The Disney team features some heavy hitters; Bradley Whitford as co-screenwriter Don DiGradis, B.J. Novak and Jason Schwartzman as songwriting team Robert and Richard Sherman, respectively, and Kathy Baker as Walt’s assistant Tommie.
Paul Giamatti also appears in a small but vital role as Ralph, the driver who attends to Mrs. Travers and provides world-wise repartee. A little surprising that he would sign on for such a small role, although it’s a great one that wouldn’t work with anyone else. So much depth to him.
Perhaps the most surprising performance comes from Colin Farrell in one of his best roles yet as Travers Goff. He really conveys the heartache of a man beaten down by life and his own demons. We keep getting glimpses of this fine actor – fame was the worst thing that ever happened to him – he is so effective in smaller roles and/or films. Ruth Wilson supports him ably as wife Margaret; a character that probably deserved more screen time but Wilson definitely knows how to make the most of it.
Directed by John Lee Hancock based on a script by Kelly Marcel and Sue Smith, Saving Mr. Banks is really a delight to watch. Could probably have used a five-minute trim, but editor Mark Livolsi keeps it all moving. Never boring, just kind of long. The look of the film is wonderful, from the photography of John Schwartzman to the fantastic set design and period outfits (too many to list).
Thomas Newman is tasked with creating a memorable score that hints at the Sherman’s work without aping it. The great writing room scenes are lovely; really make you (re)appreciate the artistry of the music and creation of this great film. The Sherman Brothers are such geniuses.
Saving Mr. Banks is not the total creampuff you were probably expecting. Sure, it does indulge in a bit of whitewashed fantasy that shows old Walt in the best possible light, but reportedly it’s a fair characterization. The film started life as an independent production, and the filmmakers were understandably nervous when the House of Mouse took ownership of it. However, by all reports Disney didn’t flex its muscles creatively and the final product is largely unchanged. There’s certainly a lot of creative license taken, but the tale is largely faithful to the spirit of the process if not entirely wedded to all the facts. Recommended.
Poster:
Trailer:
Bechdel Test:
Pass
The Representation Test Score: A (11 pts)
(http://therepresentationproject.org/grading-hollywood-the-representation-test/) 
| Main Cast | Emma Thompson P.L. Travers, Tom Hanks Walt Disney, Annie Rose Buckley Ginty, Colin Farrell Travers Goff |
| Rating | PG-13 |
| Release Date | Fri 20 Dec 2013 UTC |
| Director | John Lee Hancock |
| Genres | Biography, Comedy, Drama, History, Music |
| Plot | Author P.L. Travers reflects on her childhood after reluctantly meeting with Walt Disney, who seeks to adapt her Mary Poppins books for the big screen. |
| Poster |  |
| Runtime | 125 |
| Tagline | Where her book ended, their story began. |
| Writers | Kelly Marcel (written by) and, Sue Smith (written by) |
| Year | 2013 |
