Saving Mr. Banks

Saving Mr. Banks by Tony Baksa  - 12/15/2013

                                

“Saving Mr. Banks” is a movie about the making of that classic Disney film “Mary Poppins”. It centers on the battle of wits and artistic control between “Poppins” author P.L.Travers and Walt Disney. That’s the set-up. In all the promotional material - video and print, “Saving Mr. Banks” seemed to promise a delicious comedy starring the irrepressible stars, Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson. It is that – to a degree and it is more than that – much more. To my surprise, this is a rather serious movie about P.L.Travers’ Australian childhood and how she is deeply haunted by it. I should say traumatized.

Like many artists, Travers’ emotional scars are what drove her to create “Mary Poppins” and people it with her family members as the characters - totally reinventing them – rehabilitating them – saving them – especially her father. Portrayed sympathetically by Collin Farrell, Travers’ father was an alcoholic who had difficulty holding down a decent job. He is a loving man and a startling good father nevertheless. Her mother (Ruth Wilson) is a fragile and depressed woman with suicidal tendencies.  As a child, P.L. Travers was very protective of them- most especially her father. As an adult writer of fiction, she continues to protect them by fixing them – making them characters in her books without the “problems”.

What we get in “Saving Mr. Banks” is Travers as a fiftyish writer who is living well but going broke. She is being wooed by Walt Disney for her permission to turn “Mary Poppins” into a movie musical. Travers would rather eat nails than have her precious Mary Poppins sing, God forbid. But she does need the money to maintain her comfortable lifestyle. This comedic battle is juxtaposed with dramatic and very sad flashbacks of Travers’ unfortunate childhood. It is a jarring back and forth procedure that shouldn’t work due to the extremes of style from past to present – yet, it works beautifully. In doing so we have a funny and moving – dare I say warm and yes, ultimately feel good movie.

The final show down between Disney and Travers in her London home is so lovely and emotional. Tom Hanks as Walt Disney is perfect. Very few actresses can play acerbic, bossy and intolerant characters and yet garner such affection from the audience. Emma Thompson can and she is - in a word – brilliant. Mention should be made of Paul Giamatti in a supporting role as P.L. Travers’ assigned driver while in Los Angeles. He is like a warm and fuzzy Disney cartoon character - enormously likable. Director John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side) delivers another strong statement on the better side of humanity. This may not be an all-around family film. There are disturbingly strong and sad images of family dysfunction and death not suitable for children under 12 years of age – in my opinion. I only bring this issue up because the TV promos and theater coming attractions stress the comedic side of the movie and, of course, there is the Disney factor. Unfortunately, the promos do not fully represent what “Saving Mr. Banks” is all about.

“Saving Mr. Banks” is currently in limited release. It will open wide December 20th