Saving Mr. Banks (2013, dir. John Lee Hancock)

"Mary Poppins" the whimsical 1964 live-action Disney musical almost wasn't made on several occasions.  P.L. Travers the author behind the well-known fictional nanny was hesitant to bring her creation to the big screen especially in musical form.  This is the picture that is painted by John Lee Hancock's "Saving Mr. Banks" in which the making of "Mary Poppins" is brought to life, interspersed with flashbacks to moments of Travers' childhood that in many ways shaped her future creation and her own life outlook and personality.


Travers (Emma Thompson) is not exactly the most warm-hearted, friendly individual.  She is easily offended, short-tempered, and impatient with the ineptitude of her surroundings and others.  She is a hard one to convince when ideas pop up about the film version of her stories.  For one, she doesn't like the idea of it being a musical.  But, it is Walt Disney (Tom Hanks)'s job to win her over.  He does this it seems, by inviting her to ride on a merry-go-round at Disneyland.  After that event, she seems to be more positive and friendly, as hard as that may be to believe.


So, there are some moments which betray the believability of the story.  But, overall this is a compelling movie with some commanding performances.  It also gives an in-depth glimpse into the coming-to-fruition of a musical that every child is delighted by. 


The scenes from Travers' childhood are bittersweet and sometimes melancholy.  Travers' father (Colin Farrell) slowly descends into alcoholism and disease.  It is tragic to witness, through the young P.L.'s eyes the downfall of the most important and loved person in her life.  We get snapshots of little instances of what will influence the ideas in Mary Poppins along the way.


This is a brilliant character-study and offers a portrait of not-all-that-likable character.  As we see the flashbacks and watch Travers in her adulthood, we gradually but surely come to like and respect her character despite her faults.  She grows and develops all throughout the film and is changed, as the viewer is, by the whole experience.