While the movie received critical acclaim, it only has one Oscar nomination, though I was highly disappointed that this did not even get a shot at Best Picture (seeing as it has not been nominated for that category).
The film stars Emma Thompson as P.L. Travers, Tom Hanks as Walt Disney, and Colin Farrell as Travers Goff, P.L.'s father.
SUMMARY
The movie begins in 1961 London where the audience meets a financially-troubled author named P.L. Travers. Her agent implores her to at least consider film rights to Disney (who we find later has been after the rights for about twenty years) for her book Mary Poppins. She hesitantly goes to Los Angeles to meet with Walt Disney and his production team.
There are then some scenes from Travers' childhood in 1906. She lives with her seemingly well-to-do family in Australia and has an adoring father (who affectionately nicknames his daughter Ginty).
Back in 1961, Travers arrives at Disney Studios, where she insists on some conditions before she signs: that the film is live-action and that nothing is included without her approval. Unfortunately, as she begins working with Disney employees, there is very little that meets with her approval. Everything from facial hair, to houses, to character hobbies! She soon hints to the real intention of her book when Disney mentions Mary Poppins coming to save the children. Travers asks, "You think she's come to save the children?", then scoffs, and walks away. She later becomes frustrated and tells the others that Mr. Banks (the father of the book's children) is not as cruel as Disney Studios will depict.
Eventually, Walt takes Pamela (Travers) to Disneyland where she actually somewhat lets down her cold exterior. This, combined with other factors, leads Pamela to be more gentle. When she is presented with the new ending of Mr. Banks fixing a kite for his children, she is pleased and begins singing Let's Go Fly a Kite and dancing with the others.
Between scenes from 1961, there are some more "flashbacks" to Pamela's childhood, including an alcoholic father and some other troubles.
Three years into the future, P.L. attends the premiere for Disney Pictures' Mary Poppins. I am not going to spoil the ending, since this is by far the best part!
CONTENT
Most of this movie could easily have been rated PG, as it would be pretty slow from a child's perspective. There are, however, some moments of violence. There are repeated uses of alcohol in the film and a character coughs up blood a few times. Also, it is implied that a person is going to commit suicide when she wades into a deep river (though she ends up living).
There is no sexual content, except for a scene when a hotel worker asks P.L. Travers if he can help her unpack. Travers retorts, "If you want to handle women's underclothes, I suggest working in the laundry room."
Foul language is sparse, but still there, which includes a couple uses of God's name and a few utterances of d***.
Another point is that Walt Disney makes a comment about a tree in Disneyland, saying something to the effect that God isn't the only one who can create. Later, Travers makes a remark about Disney creating man in his image.
Despite some language and some minor offenses to Christianity (if they can be called that), Saving Mr. Banks is certainly the best new movie I have seen this year! It highly deserved more nominations (including something for Emma Thompson, or at least Tom Hanks), and although it did not, it is still a marvelous film. This is definitely appropriate for adults and teens, though there are several scenes that parents will not want children watching. While this is not a film for the whole family, it is interesting, funny, inspiring, and pure Disney!
GENERAL INFORMATION
Length: 125 minutes
Rating: PG-13 (for thematic elements including some unsettling images)
Director: John Lee Hancock
Producers: Alison Owen, Ian Collie, Phillip Steuer
Music: Thomas Newman
Year of release: 2013
Primary audience: Pre-teens (with parental supervision), teens, adults
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