Saving Mr. Banks

Rating: 4/5

A movie that is at times more fiction than not, Saving Mr. Banks is an emotional ride with a touch of Disney magic.

P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson), after twenty years of being asked by Walt Disney (Tom Hanks), has finally decided to fly out to Los Angeles to discuss giving Disney Studios the rights to her novel, Mary Poppins. Even as she is on the plane to California, she is strongly questioning her decision, fearing that Disney will turn her beloved character into an overly animated songstress.

Once arriving at Walt Disney Studios, Travers wastes no time in making sure that the people involved with the film know who is really in charge of the picture. Much to the dismay of the creative team, they struggle to get their vision across to Travers, who is unwavering in her thoughts of how the characters should be portrayed, especially that of Mr.Banks. Through the use of flashback, P.L. Travers' inspiration for her beloved stories begin to come to life, and her fierce determination to protect her characters becomes understood.

Saving Mr. Banks is a movie that I distinctly remember seeing the previews for, and being incredibly excited to see. I have grown up with a love for Mary Poppins, so getting a peak at the behind the scenes process of creating the film was incredibly intriguing to me. From what I can tell from my own research, historically, this movie does take liberties with its' portrayal of Travers' compliance with Disney Studios. That being said, the movie is made by Disney, so they wouldn't exactly paint Walt in a negative light. However, what it does do is give a voice to P.L. Travers that may have otherwise gone unheard.

With the three main pieces of the film being the flashback of Travers' life, Walt Disney attempting to woo her, and Travers fighting against the songwriters; it is clear that Travers would have to be played by a powerhouse actress, which is why Emma Thompson was a brilliant casting choice. Her performance shines well above the other actors in the film, even Tom Hanks, and is one of the main reasons anyone should see this movie. Don't get me wrong, the other performers in this movie do a wonderful job, it's just Thompson's portrayal of Travers not only makes you laugh with her blunt comments towards the Sherman Brothers, but brings a tear to your eye with her strongly emotional scenes in which Travers is grieving for her father. Though this movie did not win any Academy Awards, it is a shame that Thompson was not at least nominated for her role.

Even if this movie may not have been fully accurate, there is a part of me that will always be a sucker for movies about filmmaking, especially if they're based in the golden days of Hollywood. I love watching the golf carts make their way through the back lots, seeing the concept sketches, and feeling as if I am getting a glimpse into the world of motion pictures. So, factual accuracy aside, Saving Mr.Banks does a brilliant job at portraying this world and time period if nothing else.

Saving Mr.Banks does come off as sappy every now and again, but it's a movie set at Walt Disney Studios, so that's to be expected. It's nostalgic, emotional, and witty; everything one could want from a Disney film. If you're a fan of Mary Poppins in any way, than this movie is a must see.