The Movie: Battle of the double Oscar winners; Tom Hanks as Walt Disney in a showdown with Emma Thompson as P. L. Travers over how to adapt her Mary Poppins for the big screen. The writers British stuffiness may be overplayed, but it feels fitting when contrasted against the unshakable joy of songs like A Spoonful Of Sugar. A complete clash of personalities, the pear are at odds from the start until Disney discovers where the heart of Travers book lies. We the audience are lucky though; weve been learning that for the past half hours thanks to a series of flashbacks exploring the characters origins. And, you know, the title told us. What The Title Gives Away: The big joke spoiler with Saving Mr Banks is that at the end Disney wins and gets to make Mary Poppins. As a character piece, however, that isnt what the film (or title) is concerned with. As anyone whos seen the resulting musical knows, the story of Mary Poppins is less about a whimsical nanny and more about the redemption of Mr Banks, the familys patriarch. For anyone who hasnt, the title quickly brings you up to speed; from when the familys surname is first mentioned its obvious whats going on.
