Saving Mr. Banks
for thematic elements including some unsettling images.
Reviewed by: John Decker
CONTRIBUTOR
| Moral Rating: | Better than Average |
| Moviemaking Quality: |
|
| Primary Audience: | Teens Adults |
| Genre: | Biography Comedy Music History Drama |
| Length: | 2 hr. 5 min. |
| Year of Release: | 2013 |
| USA Release: |
November 14, 2013 (festival) December 13, 2013 (limited—15 theaters) December 20, 2013 (wide—2,200+ theaters) DVD: March 18, 2014 |
ramifications of alcoholism / drunkenness in the Bible
difficulties involved in losing a parent at a young age
How different was the real Pamela L. Travers from the one depicted in the movie?
Was the real relationship between Walt Disney and P.L. Travers as amicable as portrayed in the film?
music in the Bible
| Featuring |
Emma Thompson … P.L. Travers Tom Hanks … Walt Disney Colin Farrell … Travers Goff Paul Giamatti … Ralph Jason Schwartzman … Richard Sherman Annie Rose Buckley … Ginty Ruth Wilson … Margaret Goff Bradley Whitford … Don DaGradi B.J. Novak … Robert Sherman See all » |
| Director | John Lee Hancock — “The Blind Side,” “Snow White and the Huntsman,” “The Alamo” |
| Producer |
Walt Disney Pictures Ruby Films See all » |
| Distributor |
“Where her book ended, their story began.”
“Saving Mr. Banks” is my favorite film of 2013 with hardly a runner up. I would be pleased if I could set the expectations for you in watching this film. I was inclined for the first 30 minutes of the film, that in my review I would say something snide about “Saving Mrs. Poppins,” but for better reasons, after watching the rest, I am inclined not to. This is a very touching film. Yes, it is far from being about Walt Disney.
There is no doubt that this film leans powerfully into giving us a glimpse of production life at Disney, and it gives us a strong shadow of Walt Disney himself—impressions and anecdotes which take those of us who have never read a W. Disney biography into a journey of getting to know this icon of a man just enough to appreciate him more than the day before. Like W. Disney’s life itself, and that of any artist, there is more to this story than meets the eye. I will admit that it felt at first like a little sleight of hand took place; I feel I was led to believe this is a story about Walt Disney, but then I would ask much louder—why are we so obsessed with the greats? What about the geniuses unknown?
Ecclesiastes 9:15 says, “Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.” This story, as honestly the film name tells well, is more a back story of Mrs. Poppins, and what a powerful portrayal of the story it is.
In fact, I wish in some ways that it were a film about no one in particular, because it is such a beautiful story all of its own, and it is more powerful than the simple telling of anyone’s past. It wouldn’t get the box office hits without the big names though, would it? It might get some Oscars or other awards, but it would not carry as much bacon. On my soapbox I would say this is a sad state of affairs. Story, even story on film, is an amazing gift from The Lord, and this is a great one.
This story is heart-wrenching and heart-reaching. It is sincere and does not motivate a highly corrupted worldview, though it is in no way specifically Christian.
There are very few objections to this story. It is wholesome and thoughtful. It contains 2 damns, 2 hells, some alcohol abuse, a puff of smoke, bloody coughing into a rag, a drunken fall and a couple of kisses. The dress is very modest, as are the manners, etc. Director John Hancock also made “The Blind Side.” He obviously is able to craft a story well beyond pomp, popularity and shallow emotion. I say “Nice work, Sir.”
Violence: Minor / Profanity: Moderate—“Oh G*d” (2), “Oh dear G*d,” “God,” “Good Lord,” “damn” (2), “hell” / Sex/Nudity: Mild
See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.
Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 4½
Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 4
Tom Hanks captured the essence of Walt Disney, from his eye movements to the slight limp from a polo injury in the thirties. If you can find a VHS copy of Mary Poppins, the “Making Of” special feature that follows the movie makes an excellent companion to “Saving Mr Banks,” either before or after viewing it. But I expect it can also be found in the DVD.
Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 4½
The movie brings back a lot of nostalgia for the golden age of Walt Disney and, of course, the movie “Mary Poppins.” I never knew the story behind Disney’s promise to make “Mary Poppins” into a movie for his daughters or that it took almost 20 years for him to convince P.L. Travers to let him make it. It all turns out quite magical.
Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 4½
I wouldn’t recommend this movie for young children. It’s too complex, and at times it’s too slow to hold a child’s attention. It also shows alcoholism, sickness, death, and a brief bit of smoking. One child is seen stealing liquor for an alcoholic as well. A very young child would be bored, and a slightly older child would be confused and/or scared.
Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
I didn’t know much about PL Travers surprisingly so there was definitely a good story, with heart, surrounding this film, with full character development at the deepest level of intensity. I have no objections for Saving Mr. Banks. Thank you Disney for finally listening to the parents and families who have craved for clean media for the longest time. This and Frozen are restoring their good reputation. I can’t wait to own this on DVD later this year. Bravo!
Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
It turned out to be a wonderful family experience for us in which we were able to talk with our daughter about the tragic results that can come from escaping our sorrows and fears through alcohol (or any other means), instead of going to God. She was able to see how one family member’s bad choice affects everyone in the family, not just the person making that choice and how it can have consequences long into the future. She was also able to see how we can make our own choices to make the best of our gifts and use them to do something great despite the sorrows in life we go through. We don’t have to let tragedy keep us from becoming what we were meant to be. It’s a wonderful movie!
Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 5
Both Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks deserve Oscar consideration, but I hope that Colin Farrell is not ignored for his performance either. “Saving Mr. Banks” contains many wonderful scenes, such as when Mrs. Travers” chauffer (a wonderful Paul Giamatti) talks about why sunshine is so important to him and his daughter, and when Hanks” Walt Disney reveals that he understands Mrs. Travers” stubbornness, since he was once in her position himself. But most importantly is the scene between Hanks and Thompson in London when he reveals how her book taught him forgiveness of his father, and Thompson accepts that her own father wasn’t perfect, but that it was still ok to love him.
“Saving Mr. Banks” reminds us that the Mr. Banks in all of our lives are only human capable of mistakes, but still can be good people worthy of our love.
Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 4½
Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 5
Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 3
Tom Hanks was also great at Walt Disney; I understand as well that the Sherman brothers were also faithfully recreated. The story was wonderfully knit together—a joy! I had also heard of a problem (of sorts) with Walt’s smoking—he smoked a lot—but Disney won’t allow smoking in their pictures; they worked around it with a scene showing Walt in the final stages of quickly putting out a cigarette and saying it wouldn’t be good to be seen smoking. Nicely done! Alright—hang in there—with the glowing review above, where is the strong disappointment? There was nothing sexual in the movie—there was drinking, but that was part of the real story, so I am good with that. It also showed the impact on the family—a good piece of realism. See all »
Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 5
There was no sexual content in this movie. But I did hear one GD. The Lord’s name in vain is muffled, and you can hardly hear it. (MINOR SPOILER) But if you are wanting to still bring the family the scene happens in a flash back as the father is lying in bed, he asks his daughter where his medicine is (alcohol) and she says “mommy hid it” that’s when he takes the Lord’s name in vain. He says it quietly though, because his daughter was in the room.
Besides that, I would recommend this movie to everyone! I would rate it 10 out of 10!
Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 5
PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 4½