Saving Mr. Banks (2013)

Directed by: John Lee Hancock
Country: USA / others

Movie Review: “Saving Mr. Banks” is centered on 1961 troubled Walt Disney Studio’s cinematic adaptation of the famous novel ‘Mary Poppins’, written by Australian-born British author P.L. Travers. In a delicate financial position, traumatized-by-childhood Pamela Travers (Emma Thompson) is advised to travel to America in order to meet Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) in person and work with his staff to prepare the film. A big headache for all of them, since her cockiness, unconscious rudeness, and pickiness, got everybody intrigued and frustrated, with exception of Ralph (Paul Giamatti), a driver whom she had a special consideration. Flashbacks to her inscrutable past are presented, making us better understand her personality and the importance of Poppins’ existence as well. In the end, Disney’s psychology, care, and understanding were able to soften a shielded Pamela and relieve her from her hardest pains. The film was elegantly presented and directed by John Lee Hancock who has here his best work so far, after the sloppy “The Blind Side” released four years ago. Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks gave another ‘explanation’ of why they already won a couple of Oscars each. The moderate, well-mounted “Saving Mr. Banks” has its little problems, especially sentimental ones, but has its gravitas on the heart and bestows the spirit of the old, affectionate, and tuneful Disney films.