SAVING MR. BANKS: A fairly good film about a good fairytale on screen! [3.5/5]

Disney is celebrating its glorious 90 years in the magical world of entertainment. And to make this celebration even more endearing and rewarding, there could never be a better legend than the almost impossible unification of Walt Disney- the man himself & the old grumpy complaining writer of the famous ‘Mary Poppins’ stories Mrs. Travers; in order to bring the character alive on screen. John Lee Hancock’s SAVING MR. BANKS revisits the trying times in the acquaintance between the both. It is historical, humane, emotional, inspirational & much more to cinema-lovers than being just an enjoyable ride.

Mr. Walt Disney [deliciously played by Tom Hanks] has been trying to attain Mrs. Travers’ [marvelous Emma Thompson with a showsteeler performance] approval on the screen-rights to convert her most-loved novel in a live-animation motion picture from last 20 years. This year, Mrs. Travers has decided to reconsider her snubbing behavior and confirms to meet the team working on it but not without her never-ending list of objections in apprehension. Film narrates the plot in two parallel storylines, one being the present with Mrs. Travers’ annoying inhibitions in each & every developments in every aspect of film-making techniques and the other being the childhood memories of her relationship with her extremely caring but alcoholic father.

The more you spend time in the film you get to know the reasons why Mrs. Travers has been so anxious about little things mentioned and need to be altered in the writing for screen. We also identify the unsaid links between the essentials in Mary Poppins story and its bricks in the foundation from her emotionally shaken past. Though you always have it in the back of your mind that this association is going to happen at the end, the strongly unpredictable nature of proceedings makes you keep speculating how this would get materialized.

In the starcast, Colin Ferrell as Mrs. Travers’ alcoholic father who sure knows how to pamper his young daughters but not the money-driven world gives a moving performance. Paul Giamatti plays a good-humored chauffeur to Mrs. Travers and keeps the expectations fulfilled. Watch him where he explains why he is always excited with sudden change in weather. Tom Hanks as Walt Disney brings sheer energy in the air. It is a delightful portrayal of a nervous filmmaker who despite being a powerful name in the business, is forced to do compromises. But the film belongs solely to Emma Thompson. As an uncompromising stubborn old lady, she delivers an all praiseworthy performance. She makes an impression that could irritate you, make you laugh at her strange behavior but also stays with you long after leaving the theater.

Overall, John Lee Hancock’s SAVING MR. BANKS is a film for people who don’t restrict themselves from what only appears on big screen but also carry zeal & enthusiasm to know more about cinema and stories connected to each of them. Watch it to cherish the rock solid efforts behind the making of 1964’s classic fairytale MARY POPPINS! [3.5/5]