Saving Mr. Banks is directed by John Lee Hancock and is a very ambitious film in regards to winning awards. The movie focuses on P. L. Travers, played by Emma Thompson, and her dealings with Walt Disney, Played by Tom Hanks, as he tries to get her to grant him the rights to make her book “Mary Poppins” into a movie. At the same time there is a second story told only in flashback sequences that run parallel to the main movie. Overall I really enjoyed the movie and how the characters are portrayed. I enjoyed how it shows the amount of work that it takes trying to adapt a book into a feature length film.
Emma Thompson did a great job as P. L. Travers. She plays the highly sophisticated British woman at one moment then the woman remembering the joys of being a kid again. She was not over the top when furious but passionate when it mattered in the film. Her portrayal of P. L. Travers was very good that she makes you believe that she is this really complex and relatable character.
Tom Hanks killed it as Walt Disney. He comes across as this really likeable guy, but with the mind of a genius. He can talk his way into getting what ever he wants. When he was on screen you felt that it was Walt Disney not Tom Hanks playing him. Tom Definitely caught the Character of Walt Disney as a loveable guy on the surface but a cunning businessman underneath. He stole the scenes when he was on screen and that was enjoyable to watch. Collin Farrell plays the most memorable character in the flashbacks. He does a great job portraying his character and his journey through the movie. The rest of the cast all portray their characters very well. I can’t think of any character that I did not like at all. Paul Giamatti plays Travers’ driver and he does a great job in the role.
The film had Great cinematography. Nothing ground breaking but nothing bad in it either. The only thing that I found distracting is how in some of the flashback sequences it will suddenly cut back to the Character remembering them then almost immediately cut back to the flashback as if to remind the viewer that they are viewing a flashback. It never truly ruined it for me but it would sometimes pull out of the immersion into the story of the flashback. The music was well done and the soundtrack captured the atmosphere of the scene as for the musical songs brought the magic of the movie “Mary Poppins”. It was good to have the music set the tone and for the old songs to bring back fond memories.
Overall, I would say that Saving Mr. Banks is a great film and is worth going to watch. It has great characters and a very enjoyable story. If you don’t believe me then go check it out and see for yourself. I highly recommend it, Enjoy!
