I Actually Liked This More Than I Liked Mary Poppins

Rating: 9/10 (3 May 2014)

I called "Mary Poppins" a solid movie. I liked it. It was good. "Saving Mr. Banks" is the story behind Walt Disney's effort to acquire the rights to the book by P.L. Travers. It's a fascinating glimpse into the backstory to the book. As the movie opens, Travers is little more than an unlikeable character - considering handing the rights over to Disney after two decades of refusing only because she needs the money, resentful of Disney because of his success and because he wants to make money off the story, refusing to agree to any of the studio's ideas for how to adapt the story for the screen.
But there was more to Travers than met the eye. The movie featured repeated flashbacks to Travers' childhood. At first there was little connection with the story, or with Mary Poppins. But as the flashbacks continued, the backstory is slowly revealed, helping to explain Travers' reluctance to accept any of Disney's suggestions. As we learn more about her troubled and, ultimately, tragic childhood, Travers becomes more of an object of sympathy. Ultimately, there's a bit of Disney's own backstory given as well, and the movie is a fascinating glimpse into the lives of two people who seemed at odds, but who had far more in common than either would likely have imagined.
Tom Hanks (as Disney) and Emma Thompson (as Travers) are both two time Academy Award winners, and both, as you would expect, offered powerful performances in the lead roles. The movie strikes a good balance between being both funny and emotional, and it moves along at a very nice pace. Overall, I'd say it was actually better than "Mary Poppins." (9/10)