Saving Mr. Banks
This performance was largely overlooked due to Hanks’ equally fantastic turn in Captain Phillips that same year. Hanks’ portrayal of Walt Disney, while certainly a bit more jolly than the real man likely was, is spot on. His soulful desire to please perfectly offsets P.L. Travers’ (Emma Thompson) equally strong aversion to making anybody happy but herself. We see why people found Disney to be such an inspiration, but we also understand Travers’ suspicion of him. Something seems just a little too perfect, and there’s no man who can play endlessly earnest like Tom Hanks. Watching them collaborate to create what ultimately becomes Marry Poppins is a joy. I’m not even that big of a Disney fan, and I found this film to be an absolute pleasure.
Advertisement
