When we watch a film, we often lose focus on the complexities and persuasion that it took behind the scenes to get a film even into production. As is the case with the production of Mary Poppins in the early 1960s when Walt Disney finally lured Poppins author P.L. Travers to Hollywood.
Charismatic Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) had spent two decades persuading the complex ‘take no prisoners’ PL Travers (played masterfully by Emma Thompson) to allow him the rights to her Mary Poppins creation for a big screen movie. Travers thought that a film of her life’s work would be tarnished by song and dance, and thus strongly refused for those two decades. Driven by debt and her agent, she eventually made her way to Hollywood.
Travers was so protective of Mary Poppins that she insisted on having all discussions of the film recorded. Her stubbornness to bring the film to life drove songwriters, the Sherman brothers (B.J. Novak and Jason Schwartzman) and screenplay writer Don DaGradi (Bradley Whitford) to distraction.
As the Poppins production moves on, Travers is continually swept away to her childhood in Queensland, Australia where she grew up in 1907. Her alcoholic father (Colin Farrell) played a major role in her upbringing, inviting imagination and the possibilities of life to her impressionable childhood. It was during this time that she was inspired to create Mary Poppins, based on her Aunt Ellie (Rachel Griffiths) who took care of the family when her father was ill.
For all the moments that make you chuckle, this is a moving and dramatic film. Not only about the making of a classic movie but about the complexities of the people behind it. Thompson plays Travers with such intensity, her sheer stubbornness is nauseating, yet as the film grows Thompson allows Travers core to slowly be exposed. There is a truly touching moment when the Sherman brothers finally penetrate Travers strong will and play ‘Let’s Go Fly A Kite’ to her approval.
Tom Hanks is Walt Disney; there is no one else that can play such an important American legend. His upbeat personality counteracts Travers stifling difficult personality and allows the film to breath. The ensemble cast is rounded out by strong performances by Paul Giamatti, Kathy Baker and Ruth Wilson. Farrell plays his role so well it could be his best performance to date; unfortunately the character he plays is so foolish the flashbacks begin to play like a distraction.
Attention to detail in the glorious production design highlights the contemporary mood as successfully as a Mad Men episode. Cinematographer, John Schwartzman, blends contemporary colours and lights each scene with that 1960s sunny optimism.
This is one of 2013’s best films; played with such a fantastic cast and a haunting score weaved in and out of the proceedings by Thomas Newman. Cate Blanchett now has Emma Thompson as a possible threat at next years Oscar. Not a film to be missed.
Saving Mr Banks is in Australian cinemas from 9 January through Disney.
