Saving Mr. Banks

When Walt Disney's daughters begged him to make a movie of their favorite book, P. L. Travers' "Mary Poppins", he made them a promise, little did he know it would take 20 years to keep. Saving Mr. Banks is the story of how one of the most beloved films in movie history was made. However, the film's storyline isn't only about the wooing and securing of the Mary Poppins film rights it is also the story and the defining moment of P. L. Travers' childhood, which tells why Poppins was so near and dear to her.

Tom Hanks, who portrays, Walt Disney, is incredible, as always. His interpretation of Disney is said by those who knew the late Hollywood heavyweight to be spot-on, even down to his little mannerisms, which is awe inspiring due to the fact that is the first time Walt Disney has ever been portrayed on the big screen. Emma Thompson is sensational as the brittle, snobbish, control freak, P. L. Travers.(You can catch an audio glimpse of the real Mrs. Travers in action during the end credits of the movie) Collin Farrell's portrayal of Travers' troubled father will rip your heart out and leave it beating on the street!

Saving Mr. Banks is a fairly accurate, wholesomely square film about a wholesomely square film about a wholesomely square film. It is an old-fashioned feel-good live-action Disney movie for the modern age. Some cynics might say that it is entirely too sweet with an inaccurate storyline. I do agree that Mrs. Travers, for example, would probably hate this film, but I, on the other hand, think that a little bit of sugar mixed with fantasy helps the medicine go down and it clearly works! The film is an ode to the importance of good storytelling to readers and authors alike and a reminder that sometimes the past is best left in the past.

For those with a soft spot of Mary Poppins, however, it's a "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" treasure in its own right. So if you're feeling a little sweet why not come in to the Warsaw Community Public Library and check out Saving Mr. Banks, or if you're feeling a little nostalgic you might try Mary Poppins. Better yet why not grab P. L. Travers' "Mary Poppins" along with the Sherman brothers original music soundtrack of Mary Poppins and settle in for a weekend of reading!