At The Movies – Saving Mr. Banks

2014 At the movies May 2014 Suzanne A. Marshall

By Suzanne A. Marshall from the May 2014 Edition

Director: John Lee Hancock

Starring: Emma Thomson, Tom Hanks, Colin Farrell, Bradley Whitford, Paul Giamatte

“Inspired by the extraordinary, untold backstory of how Disney’s classic ‘Mary Poppins,’ made it to the screen.” When Walt Disney’s daughters begged him to make a movie of their favorite book, P.L. Travers’ “Mary Poppins,” he didn’t realize it would take twenty years to fulfill their wishes.

“Saving Mr. Banks” is one if those movies when the incredible acting abilities of the cast make the movie. Though the direction, sets, design, costumes and cinematography are all top notch, the performance by Emma Thomson is outstanding and superbly supported by the rest of the cast. She portrays a “curmudgeonly, uncompromising writer who has absolutely no intention of letting her beloved magical nanny get mauled by the Hollywood machine.” And here unfolds the very personal reasons for her reluctance.

I found this movie to be thoroughly captivating and loved every moment of it. From the staff at Disney Studios down to the personal chauffeur, the roles were wonderful.

IMDB ratings have come in at 7.7/10 based on 51,616 votes. I would easily agree with that and perhaps more.

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