A competent, interesting and relevant film that hits all the right notes

Rating: 9/10 (9 September 2014)

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning
Reclusive novelist P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) staunchly refuses to share her literary masterpiece Mary Poppins with anyone, despite being pestered for the film rights numerous times by different people. But she has fallen on hard times and there look set to be even tougher times ahead. So, on the persuasion of her agent, she flies off to America and has a meeting with Walt Disney (Tom Hanks), the most well known man on earth in the early 60's. Initially reluctant and extremely difficult, Travers is also horrified at the thought of Disney making it in to one of his ghastly animations, which she detests. But gradually, the fairy tale mogul wears down her tough exterior and as the film progresses, we learn of the tragic back story of Travers's childhood that nevertheless formed the basis of the fantasy world she escaped to to create her wonder yarn.
Working in a children's hospital, occasionally you'll pass a television set with a DVD playing to keep the kids amused while they wait for an appointment or something, so it's only comparatively recently that the magic of Mary Poppins has entered my life. Kids, or family, films aren't generally the type of thing I go for, as my comments listings will attest to, but something about this film still grabbed my heart enough to become a film I now own. So, in the 50th anniversary of the film's first release, this inspired and enlightening film is highly relevant and was certainly well worth my time, shining some light on the production difficulties the film encountered, not least Travers's awkward, hostile personality. Though well written, the script sometimes makes Travers come off as cartoonishly eccentric and over the top at times, and you're left wondering how it would have been possible for anyone, even Disney, to possibly make her come round.
And yet, throughout the film's tough depiction of her, this is juxtaposed with flashbacks to her childhood spent in rural Australia, where her even more outlandish father fueled her mind with his free spirit and boundless imagination. But his was a tragic existence, blighted by drink and self destruction. And yet, he imparted the words of wisdom that let her mind flourish, "never to let the world grind you down with how it is, and to keep your imagination alive." From this, her more human side comes to life, and our dislike gradually simmers to empathy.
Needless to say, if the idea behind the film wasn't exciting enough, it's even more exhilarating with the performers involved, and they all turn in reliably stellar performances. Hanks once again captures the manner and style of his charge with aplomb, bringing a real life character to the screen unlike anyone before him, while national treasure Thompson is perfectly suited to the role of Travers, and there's great support from Colin Farrell, unrecognizable at first as the dad, and Paul Giamatti as Travers's put upon chauffeur.
It's a magical examination of the magic, that will please the long time and even the more recent devotees of Poppins. ****