Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
Writers: Kelly Marcel & Sue Smith
Cast: Emma Thompson (P.L. Travers), Tom Hanks (Walt Disney), Annie Rose Buckley (Ginty), Travers Goff (Colin Farrell), Ruth Wilson (Margaret Goff), Paul Giamatti (Ralph), Bradley Whitford (Don DaGradi), B.J. Novak (Robert Sherman), Jason Schwartzman (Richard Sherman), Lily Bigham (Biddy), Kathy Baker (Tommie), and Melanie Paxson as Dolly.
Australia, 1906 a young girl by the name of Ginty (Annie Rose Buckley), playing make believe in the front yard. Travers Goff comes in and says, "Winds to the East , mist coming in, like something is brewing, about to begin. This sets the tone that begins "Mary Poppins."
1961, Pamela "P.L." Travers (Emma Thompson), already found success in the Mary Poppins series, her esteemed agent tells her that there is no money coming in, all the sales have dried up. She must hear the studio out, but the no animation clause is in the contract. Pamela agrees to meet in Los Angeles but promises to leave the papers unsigned if she is not happy with the script.
(Flashback) Travers Goff (Colin Farrell) a banker and his family, the young Ginty (Annie Buckley), Ginty a nickname her father uses to address young Pamela. The family leaves there home, on to a train to the run-down city of Allora.
(1961) She arrives in LAX, a man, driver holding a sign that reads "Walt Disney Presents" Disney wants her story so that a major motion picture could be made. Ralph (Paul Giamatti) holds the sign, greets her happily. The problem is that Pamela Travers is grumpy, exhausted, not wanting to be here in LAX, she'd rather be back in her home in London, if this deal falls through, she might lose her home.
The meeting with Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) doesn't go well, she wants no animation, and everything must be recorded; which Disney (Hanks) agreed to. He tells her that the script will not deviate from her book. The essence, and characters from her novel will not be tarnished.
(Rant) The film has to many wonderful sequences for me to go into in more detail, even though this film hit the silver in 2013, i will try not to spoil it. First let me say that the smooth transition from flashback to reality really impressed me. Some films just cut to the scenes, with no reason, which makes the story confusing. The actors knew there surroundings; period pieces are difficult to make, and the sequences with Pamela's father were very good.
The overall acting was not over-the top, really good. The feeling of heartache was established throughout the film; especially the scene with Walt and Pamela towards the end of the film. Emma Thompson and Tom hanks are truly amazing. They're the perfect fit for this type of movie, everyone in the cast fit in as well.
Preparation of the film must of been a challenge, going from one point in her life to another, it made you like her, because of the uncomfortable moments in her life. Pamela, and Ginty both the same, but as Pamela grew older, her memories of her father were so bad, but yet some had really wonderful moments, and the character brought it out emotionally.
Disney a creative person, Pamela as well. A writer has rights, protection over their published inquiries, either way, we saw the bad side to P.L. Travers, but the facts remain, it was her story. Disney was kind enough to explain his side, understanding it was her story. Two creative minds finally put out one of the most iconic films of all times, "Mary Poppins" (1964).
The love the Ginty and her father scenes, it gave me goosebumps, its always good to see a father loving his daughter so strongly like Travers Goff did. His family was everything, but Travers was an alcoholic, his life was deteriorating and the only one that could save him, is him. Like i said, this man loved his family, but he had a problem which went out of control. The one thing i admire in this man is the love he had for Ginty, you could see it in his eyes. Colin Farrell was amazing as Travers, good, heartful scenes.
Saving Mr. Banks is a nifty title for a film, it represents, what the film is about, and it makes you understand everything, meaning the sequences had a reason, a place in time, a beautiful period piece that should be owned. Films of this sort are as follows, The Secret life of Walter Mitty, Philomena, and Lee Daniels' The Butler.
Comments