Film Review: Saving Mr Banks

I took time out last night to go and find out just what all the fuss is about when it comes to the movie Saving Mr Banks.

The trailers on TV are a pretty good indicator as to the main storyline; P.L.Travers, the author of Mary Poppins, going through the rigmarole of converting her characters into a big screen worthy entity. The beautiful thing is, this isn’t the only thing happening.

We spend a good portion of the film heading back into the very early 1900’s to when Helen Lyndon Goff (P L Travers) was a young girl and the family issues that helped fuel her creativity to write Mary Poppins.  

I found it a little surreal watching Emma Thompson playing Mrs Travers, since she was also Nanny McPhee, a movie so similar to Mary Poppins it was ridiculous.

 Tom Hanks playing Walt Disney was delightful, and I must admit I had a craving to watch A League of their Own, this morning when I woke up. I love it when he’s given a role where both the female characters and his character have a chance to butt heads and come out with everyone respected and honoured.

Ruth Wilson and Rachel Griffiths were superb choices for the Aussie women of the era.

I must admit I was a little annoyed at myself for not being armed with a packet of tissues, because they were much needed and I ended up leaving before the credits had finished rolling (red, blotchy, snotty face), despite the completely awe inspiring collection of photographs that were being shown of the people the film was about.

There were so many funny moments, and times when you’re just glad you didn’t have Mrs Travers’ sniper like temper aimed at you, that you really do not notice the time go by.

John Lee Hancock you have done a brilliant job with this cast, this crew, this script and ultimately this film.

A solid 5 out of 5 from me. Take your tissues!