Saving Mr. Banks Movie Review

Can you believe that, prior to Saving Mr. Banks, no film had ever been made depicting one of the greatest icons in film history: Walt Disney? Whether it be from worry over disgracing a legend, or simply fear of a gigantic mouse-led lawsuit – it had never been done.

Yet, Saving Mr. Banks is not truly about the great animation legend. This film is about Mary Poppins author P. L. Travers (Emma Thompson), and her objections to Walt Disney turning her beloved book series into the classic film it became. She wanted no part of songs, animated penguins or anything that cheapened a character she felt was defined by her solemn dignity.

Due to these and other more personal issues, Travers avoided relinquishing the rights to her Mary for over 20 years, and this film tells the story as to why.  Not only is the story told with great respect to the author herself, director John Lee Hancock even recruited Mr. Tom Hanks to play the late, great, Walt Disney himself.

This may not seem a riveting story to tell, but it most assuredly is. P. L. Travers was a complex woman with many deep and realistic concerns. She was a true artist, and she did not want a creation she believed was just as much an extension of her own life to be told in any way less than respectful.

Emma Thompson as Travers is simply wonderful. Portraying a woman seen initially as cantankerous and stubborn, while also injecting heart and compassion, is an extremely difficult prospect for any actor and Thompson is as effortless as she is infectious in her depiction. We truly do not understand the weight of Travers’ convictions until the end of the film, and the fact that we are still 100% behind Travers until that revelation is due solely to Thompson’s classically restrained performance.

Has there ever been better casting for a biopic than film legend Tom Hanks as film pioneer Walt Disney? This is about as perfect a decision as you will ever find in a film and Hanks relishes the role. Disney was a man of flaws as well as genius, and Hanks showcases enough of them (even his closet smoking habit) to showcase the human behind the legend.

Saving Mr. Banks is a film delivered more on performances than special effects (Paul Giamatti, Ruth Wilson and Bradley Whitford all standout), and every character in the film is fully realized. That said, the biggest surprise is an actor I was not even aware was in the film prior to screening: Colin Farrell. Yes, the guy from SWAT and Alexander. As Travers’ father who propels the story to come thru flashbacks, Farrell gives the film’s most nuanced performance, as well as the best of his career. Full of ups and downs, his character provides the absolute heart of Mr. Banks and reestablishes the long ill-used actor as someone worthy of meatier roles. A truly career-saving performance.

All of this would not matter much if director John Lee Hancock could not capture the one element sorely needed in a film revolving around Mary Poppins: Whimsy. Oh, Saving Mr. Banks has whimsy to spare. Everything from the feeling of creating one of the film’s classic songs to the absolute joy those first steps into Disneyland can be, are all perfectly captured through Hancock’s eyes. Yes, there are serious matters at play here, but there is also the absolute delight of spending 2 hours in the rarified air of Walt Disney himself.

And that is the perfect complement I can give to this film. When it the story unfolds and the curtain has drawn, I was left with the innocence and joy I carried as a child and that which has unfortunately eluded many films that had aspired to achieve it. Saving Mr. Banks was an absolute delight.

If $10 is the full price of admission, Saving Mr. Banks was worth $8.00

 

Aaron Peterson
The Hollywood Outsider