Almost a Great Movie

Rating: 8/10 (15 December 2013)

Here comes the story of the mysterious lady behind "Mary Poppins", and it's a very interesting one. Emma Thompson brings to life the cantankerous author who has a few personal issues with transferring the rights of his precious creation to Disney and Company. She's concerned she will trivialize the material and not honor her heroine properly.
Most of the film is entertaining while showing us the interaction between Travers and Disney and his associates. In fact, had the film been this way 90% of the time, we would have a classic. Instead, it swings back and forth between the negotiations, pre production of the film, and Traver's reactions to the relatively vapid California culture, and the revelations of what happened in her early years in Australia. It is clear she is not able to enjoy or consider variations from her fixed perspectives.
Eventually, the mystery is resolved. Travers and Disney reach a compromise of sorts. He gets his hands on the books, makes his movie, and has a huge critical and commercial hit. Travers is able to experience some sort of cathartic moment, yet it is clear that not everything was up to her standards because there were some artistic choices she deemed not fitting.
Emma's Travers is very good portraying a woman who has a difficult time adjusting, but she is able to show her slow transformation from a rigid spinster to a woman who is capable of understanding how others view her creation and don't mean to disrespect her or her sources. Clearly, she, little by little, becomes a fan of the songwriters, and once she is outside the entertainment world, she is able to connect with her driver because they can relate to some of the same material.
The film is lovingly produced, and as I said before it's best when showing the production of the movie. There are problems with the childhood scenes, mostly because most of the incidents are not clearly defined, and the dialogue is at least vague. Colin Farrell does a very good job as the guilt-ridden father, and Rachael Griffith makes quite an impression as the prototype for the strict but caring nanny. The jewel in the crown is Thompson who is able to earn our sympathy as the can't help but her express her very frank views about a world she thinks is nothing more than thinly disguised parade of illusions with no much essence or heart.