When is the last time Disney studios did an old-fashioned film biography? This is a gentle slow-moving tale that’s momentum eases an audience into a time reminiscent of a simpler life of a century past. This is also the type of film that will draw in Academy voters, and one might suspect, given the intensity of other contenders, be exactly what could land the film an Oscar for Best Picture.
That said, the backlash of what’s truth versus making the movie a bit more entertaining by stretching that truth, might be a political issue, but it has nothing to do with the film’s quality…
Disney is a legend, and the movie’s charm lies in the fact that P. L. Travers (Emma Thompson) a British author is not in the least bit impressed with what she sees as America’s silliness over Mickey Mouse and Disneyland. Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) has been attempting to purchase the author’s book ‘Mary Poppins’ for twenty years since the day he happened upon his daughter reading the story and laughing at the lead character’s antics.
But while Walt wants to change the story into a singing and dancing extravaganza full of animated penguins, Travers is reluctant to part with the story as the way she sees it. “The Banks should be perceived as normal everyday types not aristocrats.” That’s because while adapting the book into a film Travers goes through a sort of cathartic therapy that intercuts flashbacks of her childhood, with her father, her hero, Travers Goff (Colin Farrell).
As a result, every step of production hell with Don (Bradley Whitford) and Richard (Jason Scwartzman) the composer, turn into more of a scene from The Devil Wears Prada. Mary Poppins is a virtual Anna Wintour of difficulties!
Thompson’s role is initially annoying and ultimately rewarding though flawed. Her steadfast determination is reminiscent of her frustrations last exhibited as headmistress in the movie An Education. Except in this, she protects rights that are her memories, something we’re all guilty of doing as we age into fear and cling to the past.
It takes a certain turning point – in which you’ll forever think of the words “go fly a kite” differently, that turn and soften Travers, forcing the Disney staff to reckon with her emotional wring. It seems it’s only Travers driver, Ralph (Paul Giamatti) who has a way to penetrate her pain.
The movie’s real message is that our childhood memories stay with us, surfacing someplace around mid life…in a time when we want all of life to be as simple as a walk in Disney’s park. ♔ ♕ ♚ ♛