Crippled financially, Pamela Travers, the author of the supremely successful children’s novel series centering on the magical English nanny Mary Poppins, agrees to travel to the USA from London to meet Walt Disney who has been courting her for twenty years for acquiring the film rights to her Mary Poppins stories. How Pamela copes with the very different US culture and how her relationship with Walt Disney evolves, forms the rest of the story.
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Language:
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English
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Running Time:
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125 mins
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Rating:
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PG-13
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Release date:
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20 December 2013
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Directed by:
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John Lee Hancock
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Produced by:
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Alison Owen
Ian Collie
Philip Steuer
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Written by:
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Kelly Marcel
Sue Smith
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Starring:
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Emma Thompson
Tom Hanks
Paul Giamatti
Jason Schwartzman
Bradley Whitford
Colin Farrell
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Music by:
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Thomas Newman
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Shot by:
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John Schwartzman
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Editing by:
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Mark Livolsi
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Distributed by:
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Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
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What’s Hot
- Emma Thompson as the cantankerous author, Pamela Travers is magnificent. That she held her own even while performing with Tom Hanks is a true reflection of her class. Her British accent while constantly ridiculing the American culture and stubborn attitude while discussing the script are a delight to watch. She also shows equal competency while displaying her loneliness and inherent need for love.
- Tom Hanks in another champion performance after Captain Philips this year (2013) plays second fiddle to Emma Thompson. Here, he brings out the true American spirit behind the charismatic Walt Disney. His mature ways of handling his staff and their respect towards him take the character to a very high pedestal. His persuasive nature is shown in his repeated tries to convince the author to share Mary Poppins with him.
- Special mention must be given to all the characters that come in the intermittent flashbacks of Ginty. Annie Rose who plays Ginty and Colin Farrel as Ginty’s alocoholic yet charming father who adores his daughter take the honors with majestic performances.
- All the other supporting characters perform well with Paul Giamatti as Pamela’s Chauffeur, Bradley Whitford as the script writer, the music composers, Walt’s secretary coming to mind immediately.
- Acclaimed composer Thomas Newman, has given his best to this period drama and his music transforms the viewers into the era of 60s Disney musicals. The production design and the attires reflect the year 1961 perfectly. The script which drifts from one period to other effortlessly without any hiccup is masterful.
What’s Not
- In some instances, the film looks like a marketing exercise from Disney to re-promote its brand and one of its successful ventures, Mary Poppins. It would have been nicer if the film concentrated more on the giving a deeper insight into the character of Walt Disney.
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Verdict
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